Newsletter / AUGUST 2010
Pid To Launch The First Australian Workplace Equality Index Pride in Diversity, with the generous support of the Australian Federal Police is proud to announce the launch of the first Australian Workplace Equality Index within the next couple of months.
You’re doing it right “You get so tired. You get so sick of the homophobia, the sexism, the culture of rape jokes and wife beating cartoons. But today you can take 30 seconds and smile. Somewhere right now there is a daddy dancing along while his femmy boy sings Lady Gaga. Somewhere right now there is a little girl suiting up to go play football with her peewee team. Somewhere there is a woman taking off the clothes she hates and pulling on a pair of pants. And there are boys holding hands in front of Dairy Queen and there are girls on their first date at the mall. There is a mom driving her son to the court so he can change his name from Brittney to Brandon. There is a family supporting their daughter after she reveals sexual abuse. There is a foster parent hesitantly walking into his first PFLAG meeting. And there exists more freedom, more equality, more safety than has ever existed before in the history of humanity. Of course it’s not enough. But it is amazing just the same. And you have done this. This did not happen despite our tears and our sweat, our humiliation and betrayal. This happened because of it. Keep fighting. Keep being that “annoying” dude pointing out every sexist remark. Keep voting. Keep protesting. And don’t you EVER let the other side get you down. They know that wearing you out is all they have left. What they do not know is that because of you, their children are safer. Because of you, our schools talk about bullying. Because of you, sexual harassment is illegal at their place of business.
All member organisations will have the opportunity to participate in the inaugural year of this groundbreaking index. The Australian Workplace Equality index will be the first index of its kind in Australia. Based on the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index (WEI) and the Corporate Equality Index (CEI) in the US, this index will be localised to measure the inclusivity of Australian workplaces towards their LGBT employees. The highly successfully LGBT equality index programs that are run out of the US and UK have demonstrated their value with large employers eager to rate, as a measure of their overall support of all diverse populations. Employers participate in the index not just because it’s the “right thing to do”, but because of the clear competitive advantage that can be gained from participation. Australian organisations will be able to participate in the index for a nominal fee and will receive a rating. Members of the Pride in Diversity program will be able to participate free of charge, will receive a personal feedback and strategy meeting once the results have been released and will gain access to detailed benchmarking data that will enable them to compare their inclusivity against other Australian employers. A clear benefit of PID membership! David Shield, Director of Workplace Programs for the UK Equivalent, Stonewall will be arriving in Australia late October for the launch of the Index. Pride in Diversity is proud to align with such an established authority on LGBT inclusion and workplace programs. David will participate in member-only events during this period. More information will be released shortly.
Membership Update: Welcome new members
You’re doing it right.”
We are very proud to welcome the following new members to Pride in Diversity:
Anonymous Online Blogger.
• • • •
Allens Arthur Robinson PriceWaterhouseCoopers Accenture Chevron Corporation
PRIDE IN DIVERSITY Newsletter / AUGUST 2010
Pride In Diversity Events PID’s First Sydney Seminar Hosted By Sydney University Pride in Diversity held its first workplace seminar on 27th May to discuss what the new Fair Work Act discrimination protections mean for LGBT employers and employees. This seminar was a unique opportunity for people in the HR sector + LGBT employees to understand a little more about legal protections at work. A very big thank you to our speakers who generously gave of their time for this event:
Presenters at PID’s Sydney Seminar
• C ATE TINNEY, Director, Discrimination, Fair Work ACT Ombudsman . Kate spoke on what the new Fair Work Act discrimination protections mean for LGBT employers and their employees. • I NGRID SINGH, Director, Conditions Information and Policy Services, Department of Defence Foundation Member Ingrid presented a case study: Same-Sex policy implementation within Defence.
Ingrid Singh , (Left) and Cate Tinney (Right).
What’s New
Pride In Diveristy Linked In Group Pride In Diversity Enables Skype For our interstate and local members who wish to meet face to face free of charge over the internet, we have now set up a Skype account. Our skype address is Pride_In_Diversity … free to take your calls anytime!
Pride in Diversity now has a Linked In Group – open to members only. Connect up with other Pride in Diversity member employees, receive updates on networking and events and all the latest news! To find us, click on the GROUPS menu on the Linked in Menu Bar and type Pride in Diversity into the search box. You can send a request from there. Hope to see you online ! Within a week of the group being created, we had 14 members online … but we need more of you !! Please pass this on to your LGBT networks and allies.
PRIDE IN DIVERSITY Newsletter / AUGUST 2010
PID’S FIRST NETWORKING EVENT PID members mingled at the first Sydney networking function in Sydney on 22nd September. Over 80 people registered for the event. Members and their guests chatted away to the music of DJ Sveta (left) – a big thank you to everyone for their support and for all the positive feedback that we have received since.
Canberra and Melbourne Events
Next Sydney Networking Event : Bingay !!!
We are pleased to announce some up and coming Canberra and Melbourne events that will be taking place between October and late November this year.
The next Sydney networking event will be a fundraiser for Pride in Diversity. In our inaugural year, the event will provide additional funds for the project that will enable us to not only contribute more widely to the launch of the Index and the upcoming publications, but to reach a larger market through advertising and relevant sponsorships / community alignments.
Canberra will see the combined launch for our Canberra members with the official opening of applications for the first Australian Workplace Equality Index, a measure of LGBT inclusivity within the Australian workplace. This launch is possible through the generous support of the Australian Federal Police, and will take place at their premises in Canberra mid to late October. Telstra will be hosting the PID launch for our Melbourne members. This is expected to take place late November / early December. We will keep you posted re: dates and details.
This event will be a fun-filled night of BINGAY !!! We encourage you to let your LGBT networks know. We’re after corporate tables so that we can pitch our members against each other in a hilarious bid to win from the bingay prize pool !!! Details to be announced shortly. We will be holding similar networking and social events within other States over the next six months. Hope you and/or your Sydney offices can join us for this one.
PRIDE IN DIVERSITY Newsletter / AUGUST 2010
ACON Launches Campaign
25for5
Want to be part of a healthy and caring community?
1
Help victims of homophobic violence
It’s your choice. For the last 25 years, ACON has been building the health and wellbeing of the GLBT community and people affected by HIV/ AIDS. Make a difference With a donation from as little as $25 a month, you can help us care for our community by choosing to support one of five key areas of our work (see below). You can choose to give more or less, depending on your circumstances.ny support you can provide will be gratefully accepted, and all donations over $2 are tax deductible. Caring for our community was the best choice we ever made. Now the choice is yours.
2
Help provide vital services for people with HIV
1. HELP victims of homophobic violence Fact: 85% of GLBT people have experienced homophobic abuse, harassment and/or assault. Here at ACON, we work hard to reduce homophobic violence and make our community a safer place. Your donation of $25 a month will help keep our Violence Report Line operational so we can support victims of homophobic violence and demonstrate the need for authorities to better protect our community. 2. HELP provide vital services for people with HIV Fact: Many people who are seriously affected by HIV have difficulty looking after themselves in their own homes.
3
Help improve people’s mental health
Here at ACON, we work hard to help people seriously affected by HIV to live independently in their own homes by providing practical home-based care and transport services. Your donation of $25 a month will help 3 people seriously affected by HIV to live comfortably in their own homes for 1 year. 3. HELP improve the mental health of GLBT and HIV+ people Fact: Up to 50% of GLBT people seek treatment for anxiety and depression. Here at ACON, we work hard to improve the mental health of people in our community by providing crisis counselling for newly diagnosed people with HIV, general counselling and group therapy programs. Your donation of $25 a month will help 4 people in need of counselling from a qualified ACON counsellor.
4
Help provide lesbian health services
4. Help provide lesbian health services Fact: Lesbians have the highest risk factors for breast cancer of any subset of women in the world. Here at ACON, we work hard to help improve the health and wellbeing of lesbians and other same-sex attracted women. Your donation of $25 a month will help us provide health promotion services for lesbians, such as support groups for lesbians affected by cancer as well as personal development workshops for young same-sex attracted women. 5. HELP improve aged care for GLBT and HIV+ people Fact: Many aged care services are legally entitled to refuse care for gay men, lesbians, transgender people and people with HIV.
5
Help improve aged care services for GLBT and HIV+ people
Here at ACON, we work hard to help improve the health and wellbeing of mature age people in our community. Your donation of $25 a month will help us lobby all levels of government for better aged care services for GLBT people and people with HIV. All donations over $2 are tax deductible. For more information or to donate now visit: http://www.acon.org.au/25for5
PRIDE IN DIVERSITY Newsletter / AUGUST 2010
This Is Oz Success This Is Oz is an online photo gallery where people can help fight discrimination against Australia’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) community. Part art project, part human rights campaign, This Is Oz is all about making Australia a place where everyone belongs. To visit This Is Oz go to: www.thisisoz.com.au.
Network Ten’s This Is Oz Community Announcements
The ING team pose for a photo.
ING’s LGBT Network Volunteers For Twenty10 ING GALA - Twenty10 Backyard Blitz Volunteer Day Twenty10 if a non for profit organisation that provides information, support and shelter for gay and lesbian youth. Following the huge success of the Twenty10 Christmas Food Appeal (ING collected over 900 items), Twenty10 approached ING GALA to help out with some painting and gardening at one of the emergency accommodation shelters in Annandale. A number of ING GALA volunteers came forward to help out and the team blitzed the place, giving it a whole new look. The day was exhausting, however, a great deal of fun. Interested in a PID volunteer day? Coming up soon, details to be released in next e-bulletin.
Speaking Events PID Speaks At Freedom To Be Pride in Diversity recently had the opportunity to present the program, it’s aim and offerings at a Freedom To Be meeting in Sydney.
From April on this year Network Ten has independently created 3 This Is Oz Community Service Announcements (CSA) initially in recognition of the International Day Against Homophobia in May this year. These featured Network Ten and other celebrities/ prominent Australian (including Sandra Sully, Charlie Pickering and Mat Hughes from the 7pm Project, Sir Ian McKellen, MTV Ruby Rose, netball champion Liz Ellis, Matt Preston from Master Chef). Two of these CSA’s have been broadcast periodically on the Ten Network since May and Network Ten aired one of these CSA’s during the Grand Finale of Master Chef on 25.07.10 reaching over 4 million people. Advertising in this slot would have cost $125,000. The Master Chef Grand Finale is believed the 3rd most viewed Australian TV show in a decade. The recent increased interest in This Is Oz, significantly contributed to by Ten’s CSA’s and the subsequent unprecedented activity on the site, means This Is Oz to date now boasts over 7,500 Facebook fans, has received over 150,000 unique visitors and over 500,000 page views. Quite an extraordinary achievement for a small and unique site like this. In July alone (due to Network Ten’s CSA’s) we saw over 25,000 unique visitors and over 140,000 page views, resulting in increased numbers of images submitted (reaching 1000!), comments, emails and requests. This is by far the most activity on the site over the last 12 months. As a direct result of the current interest in the site, Channel 7 have also approached us to get involved, we have conducted a radio interview with the ABC in Canberra, and the Department of Education Curriculum Directorate (who have a Teaching Sexual Health website which addresses sexual diversity strategies within the classroom / schools) have requested to link the Network Ten CSA from their own website. To view the announcement go to: http://vimeo.com/11885456
freedom 2 b[e] is a global network of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) people from Pentecostal, Charismatic and Evangelical backgrounds. freedom 2 b[e] is a non-judgmental, no agenda, safe place that assists people on their journey to reconciliation of their faith and/or their sexuality. The Pride in Diversity presentation was well received, with several participants from member organisations. The session also generated several leads and eventuated in a number of meetings with Australian workplaces. We would like to thank Freedom2Be for their generous hospitality and for the opportunity to speak to their members. For more information on Freedom2Be , please visit http://www.freedom2b.org/
Connect up to This Is Oz on facebook to keep updated with the campaign or to have your say.
PRIDE IN DIVERSITY Newsletter / AUGUST 2010
Pride In Diversity Members Support This Is Oz
Pride In Diversity Partners Support This Is Oz
Telstra Customer Relationship Management, Melbourne
Nic Parkhill, CEO ACON
David, Stonewall UK, London
Telstra’s Senior Team Takes a Stand For Diversity The team at Diversity Council Australia, DCA in Sydney and Melbourne
Pride In Diversity Team Support This Is Oz David Thodey, Telstra CEO + Telstra’s Senior Team, Melbourne In our last e-bulletin we put out a call for PID members to get involved in This is Oz. We’ve had a great response, and in particular, a huge congratulations to Telstra whose CEO with his executive team submitted their photo, sparking what has been called the largest number of comments for any one submission … followed by a submission from the Telstra customer relationship management team in Melbourne. Telstra CEO David Thodey decided to throw his support behind This Is Oz, saying it was time for business to take a stand. Mr Thodey was joined by members of Telstra’s senior leadership team, pictured L to R: Robert Nason (COO) Andrea Grant (HR) John Stanhope (CFO), Deena Shiff (Business), Kate McKenzie (Marketing) and Paul Geason (Wholesale).
Dawn Hough, Sydney
Mr Thodey said he was proud of the public stand taken by his team, saying it sent a very clear message to everyone in the company that Telstra stood for a culture of respect. “Homophobia is just not acceptable and Telstra has been recognised for the work we’ve done in recent years to embrace diversity and update our corporate policies to remove any form of discrimination,” he said.
Gerry, Sydney
PRIDE IN DIVERSITY Newsletter / AUGUST 2010
Business and Community Awards Acon Honour Awards Members of NSW’s GLBT community are being urged to nominate people and organisations who deserve to be Honour-ed at ACON’s new and improved GLBT community awards. Now in their fourth year, the Honour Awards are an annual gala fundraising event for ACON, NSW’s and Australia’s largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender health and HIV/AIDS organisation. ACON CEO Nicolas Parkhill says the format of the 2010 Honour Awards has been updated and expanded to make it an even bigger and better celebration of community spirit and service. “In previous years, Honour Award recipients were selected by the ACON Board,” Mr Parkhill says. “This year we’ve made Honour a true community event by inviting community members to nominate people or organisations they feel have provided leadership or achieved outstanding success within the GLBT community or have provided excellent service or made a significant contribution to the GLBT community. “This year we’ve also teamed up with the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Business Association, SSO Media, Foxtel and Merivale to help us increase the profile of the Honour Awards and make the event a more inclusive celebration of achievement within our community.” Nominations can be submitted in five categories covering the business, health, education, community, legal, political, media and cultural sectors. The winners of each category will receive a selection of gift vouchers, a trophy and a floral bouquet. Nominations are free can be submitted on the Honour website (www.honourawards.com.au). This year’s awards will be presented at a gala ceremony and cocktail party at The Ivy in Sydney on Thursday 30 September. The finalists from each category will join a host of TV, theatre and community personalities for a fabulous night of fun and festivity. Mr Parkhill says money raised from tickets sales and a silent auction on the night will help fund ACON’s vital work in the community. “While ACON gets a significant amount of funding from NSW Health, that money can only be spent on work
RIDE IN DIVERSITY Newsletter / May 2010
we do in relation to HIV/AIDS,” he says. “Our broader work in relation to GLBT health and wellbeing - such as alcohol and other drugs, lesbian health, anti-violence, mental health, ageing, community care and advocacy is financed by one off grants, fundraising activities and donations. “To keep this important work going, we rely on the generosity of people and organisations in our community. By coming along to the Honour Awards, community members, their friends and associates can celebrate the dynamic spirit of our community and, at the same time, raise money to help ACON build our community’s health and wellbeing.” WHAT: Honour 2010 Awards Ceremony and Cocktail Party WHERE: Sun Room, The Ivy, 330 George St, Sydney WHEN: Thursday 30 September 2010 TIME: 7pm - 11pm COST: $85 per person (inc. quality wines and beers, delicious hors d’oeuvres and fabulous entertainment) INFO/TIX: www.honourawards.com.au Tel: (02) 9206 2001 Mobile: 0400 358 109 Email: mbadorrek@acon.org.au
Publication Update Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity In The Workplace Pride in Diversity, with the generous support of KPMG, are proud to announce the near arrival of its first workplace publication : Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity in the Workplace. A unique workplace guide with tips, ideas and contact points has been developed in conjunction with Stonewall UK, but localised internally for Australia. All member organisations will receive two hard copies of the publication and a soft copy to put on the intranet (not for distribution outside of member organisations). Additional copies may be purchased from Pride in Diversity. You will receive your copies within the next month.
Iceland’s Parliament Unanimously Approves Gay Marriage
Community Fundraising PID Members Support The Aurora Dinner
Source: http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2010/06/11/ icelands-parliament-unanimously-approves-gaymarriage/ By Jessica Geen • June 11, 2010 - 16:33 Iceland’s prime minister Johanna Sigurdardottir is a lesbian. Politicians in Iceland have passed a law legalising gay marriage. The country, which is the only one in the world to have an out gay leader, prime minister Johanna Sigurdardottir, passed the law today. All 49 lawmakers approved the change, which will see the words “man and man, woman and woman” added to marriage legislation. The law allows churches to perform gay weddings if they wish and says “ministers will always be free to perform [gay] marriage ceremonies, but never obliged to”. Iceland’s protestant church has not yet decided whether it will hold the ceremonies, which replace registered partnerships. The country’s president has to approve the bill but is highly likely to do so as this is a formality and public opinion is in favour of the change. Ms Sigurdardottir, 67, became the world’s first out gay head of government last April, when her Social Democrats formed a left-wing coalition with the Left-Green Movement. Iceland repealed laws banning homosexuality in the 1940s. In 2006, it widened provisions to give gay couples all the reproductive and parenting rights open to straight couples. The country is the seventh in Europe to legalise gay marriage.
What a fantastic turnout for member organisations at the premier LGBT Sydney fundraising dinner of the year – Aurora. An overwhelming representation with IBM, INGA, KPMG, Goldman Sachs and Lend Lease members attending. The evening was spectacular with appearances by Mitchell Butel (Avenue Q), Tamsin Carroll (Dusty) and Sir Ian McKellen (left). Aurora is an LGBT organisation that was set up to raise and disburse funds for charitable works and causes which promote, provide or carry out activities, facilities or projects for the benefit or welfare of the lesbian, gay and transgender communities or any members of these communities who have a particular need by reason of youth, age, infirmity or disablement, poverty or social or economic circumstances; A special mention this year has to go to two of our member organisations: KPMG who had their own corporate table for the first time and IBM, who has not only been supporting Aurora for many years, but through the instigation of Mike Gordon, managed to get several of their team to donate two days worth of professional time each, the equivalent of a $30-40K donation. Well done Mike! Pride in Diversity was proud to have it’s first official table at this event.
PRIDE IN DIVERSITY Newsletter / AUGUST 2010
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Business Association’s 2010 Business Awards The SGLBA is calling for nominations from Sydney’s GLBT business persons and managers for their 2010 Business Awards. Nominations are sought from GLBT business persons, professionals and the community generally to nominate their favourite GLTB business and business person. Nominations are sought from the community at large. You may nominate yourself, you may be nominated by others or you may nominate others. Nominations close 16 August, 2010. The Awards will recognise and honour successful GLTB businesses and business people for their business achievement, positive workplace environment and continued community impact. The Awards are designed to give maximum coverage for GLTB businesses and business persons in recognition of the fact that GLBT business come from very diverse sectors. The awards are: The Entrepreneur Award This Award is for SGLBT owners or managers of a business that have shown persistence and are able to demonstrate how and why they are innovative. Innovation may be in terms of customer service, product, process or management practices. The Enterprise Award This award honours the outstanding business that can best demonstrate exceptional vision and leadership to achieve outstanding commercial success. Young Business Person Award Recognition and motivation award to encourage young GLTB business persons. Lifestyle Entrepreneur Award “It’s not always about the money.” This award is for those people who take a hold of their lives and decide to pursue their passions whilst making a living out of what they love most. They may have one or many strings to their bow, engaging in multiple endeavours to attain their dreams.
• t o inspire other GLTB business people and professionals to overcome the challenges that they face in their own businesses and hopefully learn from the achievements of others; • t o provide a valuable networking opportunity for GLTB business people, and • t o encourage an ongoing commitment in developing and inspiring GLTBI business persons, particularly of young people Because of the diversity in GLBT businesses and corporate endeavours in is necessary to be flexible in applying selection criteria for these awards. No financial data is sought from nominees making the assessment of eligible companies partly subjective. The SGLBA Business Awards are, therefore, more about enthusiasm, initiative and innovation than applying rigid performance benchmarks. There are no hard and fast guidelines, rather the spirit on which the SGLBA Awards was founded - i.e. success and initiative - should be the indicator of a potential nominee. To nominate applicants and nominees must: • P rovide a description of you or your nominee’s business or organisation (what you do, mission/ vision, products/services, accomplishments, challenges faced). • W hy should you or your nominee be selected to receive the award? • C ompleted nominations must be returned no later than is 0900, Monday, 9 August, 2010. All nominations must be made through the SGLBA web site at http://www.sglba.com.au The site contains helpful hints on what to include in the nomination. Further information can be obtained from Terry Preeo at businessawards@sglba.com.au or on 0419777228.
Excellence Award for Corporate Managers The Excellence Award is awarded to a professional within the corporate world or public sectors who deliver excellence in service of a professional nature. The objectives of the SGLBA Business Awards are: • fi rst and foremost to reward “excellence” by recognising business owners and managers who do what they do well;
PRIDE IN DIVERSITY Newsletter / AUGUST 2010
National News
World News
CQUni Student Investigates Workplace Discrimination
Source: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/08/05/ prop-ruling-sets-national-legal-fight-sex-marriage/
Gladstone, QLD, 20th July, 2010- A CQUniversity Masters student is putting the spotlight on discrimination in the workplace through a new research project.
CQUni Gladstone’s Nathan Barrett is undertaking a research project looking at discrimination in the workplace.
Prop 8 Ruling Sets Up National Legal Fight Over Same-Sex Marriage
Nathan Barrett (based in Gladstone) is examining the extent of discrimination in the workplace based on the sexuality or sexual identity of employees in Queensland.
Mr Barrett said the project looks at discrimination in the workplace faced by gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex (GLBTI) employees. “This study will explore discrimination against GLBTI workers in Queensland. It will add to the very limited knowledge of GLBTI discrimination in the workplace in Australia. “One of the biggest aims for this research is to inform HR practitioners about the types of discrimination faced by these employees, so that policies can be put in place to combat discrimination.” This is the first study to be conducted in Queensland looking at differences between the discrimination experienced by GLBTI employees in the city and those in rural areas. Although similar research has previously been conducted in Sydney and Melbourne metropolitan areas, these issues have not been investigated in the context of regional Australia, in particular in regional areas encompassing traditionally male dominated professions (e.g. the mining industry). An online survey will be utilised to determine the extent of discrimination experienced in the workplace by GLBTI individuals. Anyone wishing to participate in the research can find the survey online at www.cqu.edu.au/rainbowsuits.
The landmark decision rejecting California’s same-sex marriage ban sets up a complicated and unpredictable legal fight that could inspire a chain reaction of challenges on both sides of the debate until the Supreme Court ultimately has its say. Passions are running high in the wake of the ruling. Supporters of the voter-approved Proposition 8 cast Judge Vaughn Walker’s decision as a rejection of the will of 7 million California voters, while opponents hailed the ruling as an historic victory and pledged to build on the momentum. “We know that this is not the end,” James Esseks, director of the ACLU Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Project, said in a statement. For the time being, the District Court decision does not require the state to stop enforcing its ban. Walker, one of three openly gay federal judges in the country, issued a temporary stay on his decision while he considers waiting for the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to rule. But the case could ultimately end up before the Supreme Court -- and before that, the arguments could have widespread impact on similar bans elsewhere in the nation. “There’s no question that this decision will encourage additional challenges,” said Jonathan Turley, law professor at George Washington University. Thirty states have constitutional bans on same-sex marriage similar to California’s. Though the 9th Circuit Court decision, wherever it falls, would not have to be taken as binding precedent in other circuits, it could influence similar challenges elsewhere. The 9th Circuit also has direct jurisdiction over nine western states -- eight of which have constitutional
PRIDE IN DIVERSITY Newsletter / AUGUST 2010
bans on same-sex marriage. If the court upholds Walker’s ruling, all of those bans could instantly be vulnerable to legal challenge, according to Jordan Lorence, senior counsel with the Alliance Defense Fund. “There’s nothing ... that would limit the reach of this to just California,” he said. Lorence said those states also might just wait for the Supreme Court to weigh in -- he expressed confidence that the 9th Circuit would ultimately reject Wednesday’s decision. The Alliance Defense Fund is among the groups arguing in favor of the ban. He slammed the decision, saying, “this is one judge invalidating the decision of 7 million voters.” “There’s all sorts of dynamics going on here,” he said.
Pride in Diversity voted into Top 50
In the wake of the ruling, lawyers say the constitutionality of amendments defining marriage as between a man and a woman could be in flux until the Supreme Court weighs in. Turley said the Supreme Court prefers to wait until splits in the circuit courts emerge before taking up such a controversial issue -- meaning a final ruling from the highest court in the land could come at the end of a long and winding set of lower-court rulings. Even then, there’s another possibility: Congress could pass an amendment to the U.S. Constitution. But attorney Robert Massi said that’s unlikely. “If it goes to the Supreme Court. .. I really believe the votes will be there” to strike down a same-sex marriage ban, he said. “It changes the whole law of the land.” Only five states -- Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire and Iowa -- and the District of Columbia have legalized same-sex marriage. Walker’s ruling marked the first time a federal court examined whether the U.S. Constitution allows states to outlaw same-sex marriage. Two same-sex couples, as well as San Francisco, filed the suit challenging Proposition 8.
Pride in Diversity was voted among the most popular things about gay Australia on Same Same.com. The list which was compiled from hundreds of nominations ranked Pride in Diversity at number 43. Entries came from all across Australia, from diverse walks of life, nominating people, places, products, situations, ideas, respected community causes, and many personal experiences. Same Same painstakingly sifted through all the nominations and came up with a ranked list of the 50 things which are making a real difference to us, enriching the lives of LGBT Aussies in their local centres and across the nation. The listings included real quotes from people who nominated them. The list if available online at: http://www.samesame.com.au/features/5719/Whatwe-love-about-gay-Australia.htm
PRIDE IN DIVERSITY Newsletter / AUGUST 2010
Contact Details Pride in Diversity PO Box 350 Darlinghurst 1300 Tel: (02) 9206 2136 | Fax: (02) 9206 2002 | Hearing Impaired: (02) 9283 2088 Email: info@prideindiversity.com.au | www.prideindiversity.com.au
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PRIDE IN DIVERSITY Newsletter / AUGUST 2010