SPEECH TO THE AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
GLOBAL HUMAN RIGHTS CONFERENCE
SYDNEY
31 OCTOBER 2002
AMA FEDERAL PRESIDENT,
DR KERRYN PHELPS
Why Homophobia Is a Health Issue
Good morning.
It is a tremendous honour to address this important conference.
I welcome the opportunity to talk about homosexuality, health and human rights.
Homosexuality has long been a social taboo in many countries around the world, and often a socially and politically divisive issue.
Despite strong advocacy and sacrifice and some progress, there is still unacceptable injustice, prejudice, inequalities under the law, and serious health consequences as a result of homophobia.
No group in any society in the world should be grateful for small mercies - for crumbs from the table masquerading as grand gestures from elected governments.
I hear a great deal about "acceptance" and "tolerance".
The definition of "tolerance" is "the ability to endure disagreeable circumstances". That's why "tolerance" is not good enough.
Why should the right of an individual to love another individual be in any way open to question? Whose right is it to call a loving relationship between two adults "disagreeable".
Until the community and the legislators come from a position of JUSTICE and EQUALITY - not tolerance - they are working from the wrong foundation.
That anyone could claim "tolerance" is good enough shows just how elusive real justice is.
Homosexuality is defined as the sexual and emotional attraction to members of the same sex, and has existed in most societies for as long as sexual beliefs and practices have been recorded.
Although reliable statistics are difficult to obtain relating to the number of people who identify as gay, lesbian and bisexual in the community, current estimates indicate that as many as one in ten Australian citizens may belong to one of the above three groups.
This figure will naturally vary depending on the definitions used to describe the continuum of sexual identity, sexual orientation and sexual behaviour that exists in our society.
Societal attitudes and laws regarding homosexuality over the generations have had a decisive impact on whether individuals have been able to express their sexual orientation openly, or even secretly.
If you face the risk of incarceration or hanging if you express your true sexuality, it is quite an impediment to openness.
In 1973, the American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
Following this enlightenment, homosexuality was recognised as simply a form of sexual orientation or expression rather than a mental illness.
This belated move by the medical professional to correct a fundamental error was instrumental in improving the health and wellbeing of this group of people.
But a lot more needs to be done – the path to justice is littered with prejudice, fear, hate and inequality.
But just what is homophobia?
Importantly, "phobia" remains listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. A phobia is an irrational and unfounded fear with implications of aversion or hatred. In this case, that is an irrational and unfounded fear of homosexuality.
The term “heterosexism” has been used to describe discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people.
Heterosexism encompasses the belief that all people are and should be heterosexual and that alternative sexualities pose a threat to society.
Heterosexism is about assumptions and about creating a community or society around those assumptions.
It is the belief that heterosexuality is natural and universal - that it's the bedrock of society, and not only the norm but the only formula for all interpersonal social relations.
Heterosexism acts to enforce heterosexuality, and leaves society little choice but to assume that heterosexuality is the onlysexuality.
It does this through society's institutions – churches, schools, hospitals, governments and the media - which, through their practices and attitudes, single out the heterosexual and the heterosexual couple as the social ideal.
By defining the social ideal, our society's institutions add support to the belief that heterosexuality is the only natural form of sexuality.
It then follows that anyone who falls outside of this norm becomes either invisible or relegated to the realm of the "deviant".
This is how heterosexism maintains the assumption that heterosexuality is the only sexuality.
In this way, heterosexism includes homophobia, a fear of alternative sexualities, and transphobia, a fear of alternative gender identities.
Dr Katherine O'Hanlan, a leading US Gay and Lesbian Health advocate and academic, describes homophobia as operating on two levels - internally and externally.
Internal homophobia represents prejudices that all individuals learn - and therefore internalise - from their families, friends, teachers, religious institutions, government, and the media.
External homophobia then is the overt expression of those biases, ranging from social avoidance to legal and religious discrimination and violence.
Homophobia affects all members of society as individuals comply with gender role stereotypes in order to avoid homophobic discrimination.
This is demonstrated when men suppress expressions of “femininity” and women suppress expressions of “masculinity” in order to avoid becoming the targets of homophobia.
It clearly exists as a constraint on human behaviour that serves to diminish an individual’s potential for development, as well as to stifle creativity and diversity in our community.
Unfortunately, homophobia starts early in the life of a homophobe.
In 1999, Associate Professor David Plummer of the University of New England's School of Health showed how Australian boys as young as seven and eight years of age learn to be homophobic.
In his book, “One of the Boys: Masculinity and homophobia and modern manhood”, Dr Plummer found that the schoolyard is a major source of homophobia that exists independent of the outside world.
He found that negative attitudes about homosexuality become an ingrained belief system, which has profound effects on the behaviour of boys - and shapes their futures.
Dr Plummer says homophobic words start being used in mid to late primary school, well prior to when boys form their sexual identity or even know what homosexuality is.
He says:
"At that age it is extremely powerful - in fact 'poofter' was ranked as the worst thing that a boy could be called. In primary school, boys are likely to be accused of being a poofter if they mix with girls too often, and accused of the same thing in high school if they don't mix with them enough."
Dr Plummer says that homophobia peaks in the mid to late teens, with boys in years 8 and 9 reporting that they use the word 'poofter' 25 to 50 times a day.
These attitudes, he says, are often an exaggerated expression of heterosexual identity, and thus affect everyone.
In schools, homophobia is directly related to violence, harassment and bullying.
I believe that all schools have a duty of care to provide safe and supportive environments that protect students and staff from homophobic abuse and violence.
That is simply not happening in enough schools or as a consistent culture within schools.
If schools do not fulfil their duty of care, homophobia will continue to devastate the health and wellbeing of a significant number of young people.
Homophobia is clearly about IRRATIONAL fear and it is without doubt a health issue to be treated seriously.
So what are the reasons homophobes give to justify their fear?
People who are homophobic give many reasons to justify their discriminatory practices.
None of these stand up to closer scrutiny. The arguments are as weak as they are flawed:
“it's not natural”
This is an objectively indefensible argument as we frequently see homosexual behaviour in many other animal species.
Homosexual behaviours have been noted in every primate species so far studied.
From a sociological perspective, homosexuality is found in all cultures throughout history - and societal norms seem to have little influence on the incidence or practice of this behaviour.
Why? Because purely and simply homosexuality is a normal part of the continuum of human sexual expression.
“homosexuality is a perversion” or “it's against God's law”
This is simply a variation on the ‘it’s not normal’ argument with some religious overtones.
We need to categorically reject this and any other argument that assumes that an individual should be bound by another group’s religious principles.
The bloody Crusades, the Irish conflict and the Spanish Inquisition were based on this principle.
Now I am not about to go into a theological outburst, but if you go through the other abominations in Leviticus, there are not even many religious fundamentalists who would come out looking too squeaky clean.
In any case, it is unacceptable that religious doctrine is used as an excuse for any legislator to deny a significant number of citizens the basic right under the law to live without fear of discrimination on the grounds of their sexuality.
In a democracy, this "God's law" argument is a clear violation of the principle of the separation of church and state.
And until religious leaders or other zealots can come up with a sound reason why society benefits by the outlawing of homosexual activity, then there is no moral basis for any such law or discriminatory treatment.
“ it's disgusting”
Who are "they" anyway?
There is a whole range of activities in this world that could be considered "disgusting" depending on your viewpoint.
Racism? Bigotry? Intolerance? Discrimination? Wedge politics? Yes.
Homosexuality per se? No.
In fact there are many heterosexual practices that many others would find "disgusting" if they thought about it for less than a minute.
To many, it’s a case of ‘us versus them’.
In Australia today there are many instances where people resent some individuals or groups being granted rights that they do not receive as well – or, more importantly, that they believe that they don’t receive as well.
There is downward envy or they believe that they personally are paying for somebody else’s benefits. This prejudice is championed by some conservative commentators in the media.
It applies to attitudes to homosexuals.
For example, one of the oft-quoted reasons why some oppose gay marriage is that it will somehow threaten the heterosexual institution of marriage.
Just how that would happen is never explained but, of course, those who agree with the notion don't have to explain - to them it seems a reasonable proposition, regardless of the absence of reason.
Otherwise the threat to the institution of marriage posed by five-minute Hollywood marriages would become part of the argument.
Homophobes feel the threat even if they can’t articulate the reasons why - so this is an emotional response rather than a rational one.
To some, it is about loss of control.
People who lead lives that are different to that which is perceived as ‘normal’ represent a threat to a ‘normal’ individual or a threat to that ‘normal’ individual’s world-view.
When someone has held to the same ideas and has staunchly advocated them and lived them all of his or her life, someone who suggests he or she may be wrong can be very threatening.
The cost to society of homophobia is enormous, not just to the gay or lesbian person but to all of us. Friendship, family and community can all crumble under its weight.
The common experience of discrimination means that the health of non-heterosexual populations differs from that of the general population.
It is most important to state that nearly all of these increased health risks are a direct result of the societal marginalisation and stigmatisation of sexual minorities.
They ARE NOT due to people being identified as being lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender.
Homosexuality itself does not pose some genetic or biological hazard. It is the negative reactions of others to it that creates the problems.
Homophobia leads to health problems that are shared by gay men and lesbians as well as health problems specific to each of the subgroups.
For the non-heterosexual, we know that the impact of this discrimination may cause them to develop low self-esteem and depressive distress resulting in:
- poor health habits
- poor compliance with health screening recommendations
- reduced access to healthcare systems
- reduced utilisation of health services
- and because of these factors, higher risk profiles for many cancers and higher risk profiles for heart disease, both of which may lead to potentially higher morbidity and mortality.
So what are the shared health issues that result from homophobia?
For a start, there are Violence and Hate Crimes.
The experience of violence is far higher for the gay and lesbian community than for the general population.
A recent survey of homosexual people in Victoria indicated that “over 70% of respondents had been subject to an experience of public abuse in the past five years”.
This experience may have ranged from verbal abuse to physical attack.
There is inequity is Access to Health Care.
The lack of recognition for same-sex partners creates a barrier to medical decision making.
It leads to difficulties when negotiating the healthcare system particularly within hospitals where access to intensive care units and emergency departments may be denied.
I am reminded of the story of a woman who contacted me some years ago. She and her partner (I will call them Elizabeth and Jane) had been together for over forty years.
Jane fell ill and things took a turn for the worse during a routine hospital admission. Elizabeth felt shy about revealing the nature of their relationship and was made to sit outside the room while staff worked on Jane.
Elizabeth repeatedly asked if she could see her partner. She was told that she could not because she was not family.
Three hours later, Jane died.
Elizabeth still lives with the anguish that she had no chance to say goodbye to Jane after forty years together.
Mental health problems are statistically over-represented in the gay and lesbian population throughout life because of exposure to discriminatory behaviour.
If you have any doubt that homophobia is a major mental health issue, then consider that verbal harassment, physical violence, and the fear of family and peer rejection are significant contributors to poor self-esteem, social withdrawal and isolation, psychological distress, youth depression and suicide.
Same-sex-attracted young people attempt suicide 4 to 6 times more than their heterosexual peers. I will return to that later.
Society’s acceptance of diverse sexualities and gender identities is a major factor in whether an individual makes a successful transition through various lifestages.
These significant lifestages are childhood, youth, middle age and ageing.
As young same-sex-attracted people pass through these lifestages, there are a number of health issues that are commonly faced.
All people during their youth go through a period of self-discovery, but society's attitudes towards homosexuals make this particularly challenging for young people who are questioning their sexuality.
The data about the health of gay and lesbian youth are startling and disturbing.
A 1996 Western Australian study of young gay men found over half had attempted suicide.
I do not want to just pass by this word "suicide".
This figure means that over half of young people who find themselves attracted to the same sex feel that killing themselves is a better option that living.
This is a national tragedy.
Lesbian and gay youth are also known to have higher rates of homelessness - generally related to family rejection.
This is compounded by the fact that they are often subject to discrimination within services and sometimes excluded from accommodation.
Harassment at school is an all too common problem.
For example, studies show that the average US High School student hears 25.5 anti-gay slurs each day.
One in three same-sex-attracted young people in a Chicago school had an object thrown at them and one in five had been kicked, punched or beaten because of their sexual orientation.
A Seattle study found gay and lesbian youth were six times more likely to be targets of offensive comments or attacks, and three times more likely to be injured in a fight.
In Australia, homophobia is a particular problem for those living in rural areas where there is greater social isolation from homosexual peers and role models.
Some schools have a serious problem with bullying which cannot be dealt with unless the issue of homophobia is effectively addressed.
It is disgraceful that education on this issue for teachers and students is not mandatory in every school.
The conspiracy of silence amongst community leaders, government, the medical profession and the education system on this issue must end.
It is impossible to tackle youth suicide and depression without tackling one of its most common causes - whether the "powers that be" like to acknowledge it or not.
But it is often the most simple things that clearly illustrate the discrimination…and rejection. Gay and lesbian youth are often denied many "Rites of Passage" that their straight identifying peers take for granted.
These include:
- experiencing classroom romances
- a first date
- a first kiss
- or attending the Graduation dance with their partner
Because of the reluctance of gay or lesbian teachers to be visible, same-sex attracted students often lack suitable role models or relationship models within the educational system with whom they can identify.
And they lack healthy outlets for sexual exploration or experimentation.
Not to mention that in some States it is illegal for a youth to explore his sexuality if it happens to be homosexual until his schooldays are over - unlike his heterosexual peers.
The failure to experience these activities stifles the normal social development of gay and lesbian youth, and so it becomes a health issue.
At the other end of the spectrum, we have Australia’s ageing population.
Australia is a long way from fully recognising gay and lesbian ageing issues, but this must change.
As the baby boomers who rallied in the 1960s for equal rights enter their senior years, I find it inconceivable that their spirit of determination will be extinguished.
They are going to be loud, proud and never cowed.
They will defend their relationships – with their love, sharing, commitment…and sex…and sexual orientation – into their twilight years.
Current Australian ageing research, education, and service development rarely, if ever, addresses non-heterosexual experiences or issues.
Our current policies make no reference to the specific needs of older gay men and lesbians, particularly in relation to institutional care.
Geriatricians may discuss concerns related to the family, carers, income maintenance, social support and community networks – but these are almost exclusively from a heterosexual perspective.
Lora Connolly, the Co-Chairperson of the Lesbian Gay Ageing Issues Network of the American Society on Ageing, says that:
“Hate crimes, employment discrimination, prejudicial bias in mental health therapy, the lack of legal protections for domestic partners - the impact of these issues for ageing and old gay men and lesbians is significant.
“It shapes the economy of our retirement; it shapes our access to and willingness to use health and mental health services; it shapes the quality of our lives; and it impacts on the emotional, legal and economic security of our marriages or partnerships, whatever we name them.
“There is a growing need to recognise sexual and gender diversity within the aged care sector as this lack of recognition means that the health needs of many older people are not being adequately addressed with culturally appropriate care.”
We have not even begun to address this glaring inequity in aged care.
I’ll move on now to the specific health issues that result from homophobia?
Lesbian women have been found to access breast cancer screenings less regularly than recommended, which puts them at an increased risk of advanced breast cancer due to this delayed diagnosis.
This is of particular concern as the rates of breast cancer may actually be higher due to fewer pregnancies.
Lesbian women may also be at greater risk for cervical cancer, again because they may avoid visits to the GP or gynaecologist for pap smear screening – possibly due to past negative experiences.
Lesbians and their doctors often wrongly assume lesbians are at lower or no risk.
This is not necessarily the case as HPV (a virus associated with Cervical Cancer) can be transmitted between same sex partners. Further, a woman identifying as lesbian may have had sex with men.
Research shows that for lesbians the interval between pap smears can be up to three times longer than for heterosexual women as these tests are typically performed with gynaecological exams annually, usually for contraception renewal.
Lesbian sexual activity can potentially transmit most Sexually Transmissible Infections.
It is important for doctors and the health system to offer screening for lesbian and bisexual women on the same basis as heterosexual women.
There are many common vaginal infections that can also be spread during woman-to-woman sexual contact.
Sexually Transmissible Infections are also a risk for women if they are prevented from accessing appropriate clinical insemination services and lack medical support to assist in screening known sperm donors.
Legislation to deny reproductive technology or IVF access for lesbians is discriminatory and flies in the face of domestic and international medical and ethical opinion.
Lesbians pay taxes and they are entitled to equal treatment in the community.
We need to advocate for equal rights for women who want access to reproductive technology.
Seeking to start a family by any means requires great commitment and determination to be a parent, and this is the same for homosexual and heterosexual couples.
Legislation based on ignorance should not stand in their way.
There are specific health concerns for gay men, too.
Epidemiological studies in Australia have found gay men to be at higher risk of contacting HIV/AIDS and other Sexually Transmissible Infections.
While in global terms gay men are no longer the primary affected population, in Australia HIV/AIDS remains far more prevalent amongst gay men.
HIV transmission is up to 3-5 times higher when other Sexually Transmissible Infections are present.
Gay youth and men coming out late in life are particularly vulnerable because the lack of supportive environments and targeted health promotion can lead these men to engage in anonymous sexual encounters and other high risk behaviours.
There is also an increased risk of both hepatitis A and B in the gay male population.
Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B Virus are Vaccine-Preventable diseases, but it is only through open disclosure within the healthcare setting that these options can be discussed.
Recent studies have reported bisexual people to have worse mental health than their homosexual or heterosexual counterparts, due to more adverse life events and less positive support from family and friends.
Bisexual men and women may also be at greater risk of Sexually Transmissible Infections due to a lack of targeted health promotion activities.
It gets more complicated with transgender people.
Transgender people are amongst the most marginalised and discriminated against groups in our society, and they experience a high rate of depression and suicidal ideation.
Transgender people may be medically dependent due to the need for ongoing hormonal treatment or possible surgical intervention.
These treatments can lead to specific physical health problems. For example:
Male to Female (MTF) Transsexuals who do not have their prostate removed after sex reassignment surgery are still at risk of prostate cancer.
Female to Male (FTM) Transsexuals can still be at risk of breast cancer in spite of breast reduction surgery, as well as risk of ovarian cancer if ovaries are not removed.
While I am aware there are speakers from other countries who will speak at length about the international perspective, I’d like to briefly mention some key health-related issues.
In virtually every country in the world, people suffer from discrimination based on their actual or perceived sexual orientation.
In some countries, sexual minorities live with the very real threat of being deprived of their right to life or security of person.
A small number of countries continue to inflict the ultimate ‘health remedy’ - the death penalty.
It is unacceptable in the 21st Century that people are executed for any reason - but it still happens for the ‘crime’ of private sexual acts between consenting adults.
In many countries, police or other members of the security forces actively participate in the persecution of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender people, including their arbitrary detention and torture.
This has a profound effect on both the physical and psychological health of these individuals. Unfortunately, the homophobic bias within many criminal justice systems effectively precludes seeking redress via these avenues, and people’s health continues to disintegrate.
The homophobic vilification of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender people occurs on every continent.
Human Rights Watch notes that:
- In Namibia, President Samuel Nujoma vilified gay men and lesbians, stating, "The Republic of Namibia does not allow homosexuality, lesbianism here. Police are ordered to arrest you, and deport you, and imprison you too."
- Last November, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad also verbally attacked gays, announcing that he would expel any gay British government minister if he came to Malaysia with a partner. Mahathir explained in an interview with BBC radio, "…the British people accept homosexual ministers. But if they ever come here bringing their boyfriend along, we will throw them out. We will not accept them”.
- In Egypt, a sixteen-year-old boy was convicted of "debauchery" on September 18 for allegedly engaging in sexual relations with men. The boy received a sentence of three years' imprisonment with labour, followed by three years of probation. Press and spectators were allowed to attend and report on the September and October hearings, and the boy's name, photo, and accounts of the charges and sentence have appeared in Egypt's semi-official press.
- Transvestites have been arrested in Argentina under a law prohibiting the wearing of the clothes of the opposite sex - a prima facie violation of freedom of expression.
But there is some light for the homosexual community.
The Netherlands is the first state to allow same sex couples to marry.
Just three years after implementing a domestic partnership law, the legislature, by a significant majority, passed a law to end discrimination in marriage.
By recognising and accepting the legitimacy of same sex partnerships the Netherlands is advancing the health and wellbeing of all Dutch people.
On the other side of the globe, Colombia's Supreme Court issued a decision granting conjugal visits to a lesbian in prison and her partner.
The decision in this case ended the practice of gender- and sexual orientation-based discrimination regarding conjugal visits for prisoners in that country.
And Judge Kathleen Satchwell, a judge in South Africa, won the right for her female partner to enjoy the same benefits as those previously reserved for "spouses" of married heterosexual judges.
South Africa continues to take the lead on human rights protections for gays and lesbians.
In September, a South African Court ruled that gay and lesbian couples could adopt children. However, the judgment was appealed to the Constitutional Court.
I have talked about homophobia and the devastating health impacts, but what are the solutions?
Strong family connections are important to the health of all individuals. That may be a family of origin or a family of choice.
A feeling of connected-ness is critical to notions of wellbeing and happiness.
Many gay men and lesbians have wonderful and supportive biological families. Sadly, many do not.
And just as many heterosexual people leave home and establish their own partnerships and families, so do homosexual people.
But for too long, people with same sex partners have been marginalised and told that their families of choice don’t count. They do.
There are significant changes to the way that gay men and lesbians are choosing to construct their middle age years, particularly in relation to the formation of family.
A recent study into Gay and Lesbian Families reported that around 10% of gay men and between 15-20% of lesbians are parents.
This proportion is likely to increase in the next five years as many lesbians polled also indicated that they are planning to have children in the future.
Strong families lead to strong communities and within strong communities individuals thrive.
Creating positive environments is the key to creating positive health.
It is not such a difficult concept to grasp that an individual's choice as to how they construct their family is their choice, and deserves respect and acknowledgment. The same goes for child-rearing.
The American Academy of Paediatrics states that:
“The weight of evidence gathered during several decades using diverse samples and methodologies is persuasive in demonstrating that there is no systematic difference between gay and non-gay parents in emotional health, parenting skills, and attitudes towards parenting.
“No data have pointed to any risk to children as a result of growing up in a family with one or more gay parents.”
It doesn't always work out.
But then it doesn't always work out for mixed gender parents either.
We’re talking about health, so what is the role of doctors and other health professionals?
The views of medical practitioners in society carry much authority.
Doctors therefore have a significant role to play in promoting healthy attitudes to sexual and gender diversity.
For many people, their only contact with health professionals is with their family doctor.
As such, these doctors are often the first point of contact when an individual wants to talk about their sexuality or gender identity.
A doctor’s assumptions regarding sexual orientation - or the patient's reluctance to disclose his or her sexual orientation and behaviour - can lead to failure to screen, diagnose, or treat important medical problems.
It goes without saying that gay men and lesbians are also represented among health professionals.
They can also experience issues of discrimination and heterosexism within their own profession.
These attitudes can damage career satisfaction and progression. This is totally unacceptable.
What is the AMA doing to address the issue of homophobia in our society?
I am proud to say that the AMA last weekend endorsed a Position Statement on Sexual Diversity and Gender Identity.
I am releasing it publicly at this Conference today.
This statement puts the AMA up there with the leading progressive medical associations in the world on these issues.
We categorically state the AMA’s commitment to addressing the health effects of homophobia.
The AMA believes first and foremost that a doctor’s non-judgmental acknowledgment of a patient’s sexual orientation, gender identity and behaviour enhances clinical care.
We reaffirm our belief in equity of access to health care for all Australians.
Communication and disclosure of sexual orientation are significant issues and doctors need to understand that we can never assume sexual behaviour based on sexual orientation.
Similarly we can never assume sexual orientation based on sexual behaviour.
The AMA acknowledges that a doctor’s use of language that assumes an individual to be heterosexual makes it harder for a person to disclose their sexuality.
The AMA is supportive of interventions that prevent the development of homophobia, as this will improve the health of all Australians
We acknowledge that in the past the profession has not been as vocal or as proactive as we could have been in dealing with this issue.
The AMA recognises medicine is a diverse profession and is supportive of equal opportunity policies, which stress that gay and lesbian people receive the same protection as others in areas such as recruitment, promotion, training, transfer, terms and conditions of service, and dismissal.
The AMA believes that acknowledgment of same-sex partners is important in medical decision making and that these partners should be afforded the same next of kin status as their heterosexual counterparts.
And, most of all, the AMA is supportive of legislation that condemns discrimination and provides legislative recognition of same-sex unions and families.
This will lead to legal, societal, financial and healthcare equity within the community.
We hope that other groups in the community will match our commitment to change and social justice.
As a community, we must rediscover our focus on the things that unite us and reject efforts to turn us against one another.
There is no place for discrimination and prejudice in a progressive forward-looking inclusive nation.
We as a society must take responsibility for the disease of homophobia in our midst.
Edmund Burke once said "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing”.
If “good men do nothing” about the effects of homophobia, there will be negative consequences for individuals and for the community.
We have seen the benefits of active measures to eliminate racial hatred and misunderstanding here in Australia, even though this progress has been threatened by recent events.
The developed world has made enormous progress in eliminating socially sanctioned discrimination against women, too.
It should go without saying that different types of relationships suit different people.
Because of homophobia, people are suffering. Young people are dying.
There can be no excuses for delays in achieving justice and human rights for all people.
Thank you.