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Alastair Lawrie Profile picture
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Feb 7 • 5 tweets • 2 min read
My thoughts are with trans and gender diverse kids and their families, abandoned by this thoughtless, and in my view, heartless, exclusion.

But thoughts are not enough.

Please take *action* today to tell MPs to reject the #ReligiousDiscriminationBill. 1/ theguardian.com/australia-news…
Tell moderate Liberal MPs to reject the Bill here. 2/
equal.org.au/tell_liberals_…
Tell ALP MPs to reject the Bill here. 3/
equal.org.au/tell_labor_to_…
Or use this @EqualityAu webform to contact your local MP and Senators here. 4/
equalityaustralia.org.au/take-action/
There are literally days, or even just hours, left to tell Parliamentarians that we demand a country which treats all people equally, and with respect.

That *must* include trans and gender diverse children.

Yet again, and as always, #IStandWithTransKids. 5/

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More from @alawriedejesus

Alastair Lawrie Profile picture
Feb 9
For those celebrating the protection of LGBT students in religious schools under the Sex Discrimination Act, I have some news:

Unfortunately, it's not quite that simple.

Discrimination against LGBT kids could continue, under the #ReligiousDiscriminationBill itself. #auspol 1/
That's because the RDB allows religious schools to discriminate against students on the basis of religious belief, throughout their education.

This could allow discrimination against LGBT kids 'under the guise of religious views', rather than on sexuality or gender ID itself. 2/
For a detailed explanation, see this helpful thread from the expert on these issues @LiamElphick_ 3/
Read 7 tweets
Alastair Lawrie Profile picture
Feb 9
Based on what we know about Labor's proposed amendments to the #ReligiousDiscriminationBill, we can say the following:

-they make improvements in a few important areas

BUT

-don't redeem what remains, overall, a deeply flawed Bill. #auspol 1/
Improvements incl removing the ability of religious schools to discriminate against students on the basis of sexual orientation & gender identity under the Sex Discrimination Act.

And ensuring the statement of belief clause doesn't remove existing discrimination protections. 2/
However, Labor's amendments do *not* protect LGBT teachers in religious schools under the SDA.

Instead, they will wait for the ALRC to report on this.

Even though this issue is *not* complex, with Tasmania protecting LGBT teachers for two decades, & the ACT since 2019. 3/
Read 20 tweets
Alastair Lawrie Profile picture
Feb 9
Disappointingly, this explainer does not discuss the loophole created by the #ReligiousDiscriminationBill itself, which could continue to see LGBT kids discriminated against 'under the guise of religious views', even if the SDA is fixed. #auslaw #auspol 1/ smh.com.au/politics/feder…
This is because the #ReligiousDiscriminationBill allows religious schools to discriminate against students throughout their education.

This falls far short of the best practice approach of Qld, Tasmania, ACT and NT, which limit such discrimination to the point of enrolment. 2/
As a result, a religious school could still punish, or expel, an LGBT student who refuses to publicly affirm 'homosexuality is intrinsically disordered', or 'god created man and women, so trans gender people don't exist.'

The outcome is the same: LGBT kids being mistreated. 3/
Read 4 tweets
Alastair Lawrie Profile picture
Feb 8
"“My appeal to you is to come together and think about our team,” Mr Morrison told the meeting."

Internal party unity is more important to him than protecting trans and gender diverse students from discrimination on the basis of who they are. #auspol 1/ smh.com.au/politics/feder…
Contrast:

Bridget Archer said she was “horrified” that transgender children would not be protected under the proposed reforms and implored her parliamentary colleagues to think about the long term mental health effects of affected people. #auspol 2/
And more:

"I can’t wrap my head around this and I fear that it may risk lives,” she said. “In 2022 I can’t believe we’re having this conversation. This bill is an overreach." #auspol 3/
Read 4 tweets
Alastair Lawrie Profile picture
Feb 8
*Extremely* disappointing that Liberal MP Angie Bell, a member of the LGBT community, has decided not to stand up for trans and gender diverse children and young people. #trans #auslaw #auspol 1/
Bell is also supporting amendments to the Sex Discrimination Act that allow religious schools to discriminate against lesbian, gay and bisexual students in 1,001 ways other than expulsion. #auspol 2/
And supporting a #ReligiousDiscriminationBill that provides an alternative avenue to discriminate against LGBT kids on the basis of beliefs *about* sexual orientation and gender identity, rather than those things directly (including even, presumably, expelling them). #auspol 3/
Read 4 tweets
Alastair Lawrie Profile picture
Feb 7
"Faith-based schools would not be able to expel gay students, but would retain the right to expel transgender students under draft amendments to a contentious #ReligiousDiscrimination Bill package moderate Liberals say they cannot support." #auspol 1/ smh.com.au/politics/feder…
⬆️ I am struggling to find the (twitter-appropriate) words to express how I feel about a Govt that would target trans & gender diverse kids for abuse and mistreatment.

Discrimination law should protect the vulnerable, not expose them to discrimination because of why they are. 2/
There is *nothing* radical about protecting students in religious schools against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation *and* gender identity.

Tas, Qld & NT have done so for decades. ACT for almost 3 yrs. Religious schools continue to exist in all 4 jurisdictions. 3/
Read 5 tweets

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