LGBTQI members are encouraged to participate in a Q&A-style forum.
Members of the LGBTI community are being urged to participate in a live Q&A-style event with leading NSW politicians, ahead of the State Election in March 2015. Anton Enus, SBS World News presenter and LGBT activist, will host the event.
LGBT organisations – ACON, the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Business Association (SGLBA), Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby (GLRL) – are organising a forum that is designed to provide members of our community with the opportunity to ask a panel of leading politicians questions about key issues affecting LGBT people.
Politicians that will make up the panel include:
- Mehreen Faruqi, Greens Party
- Bruce Notley-Smith, Liberal Party
- Trevor Khan, National Party
- Alex Greenwich, Independent
- Penny Sharpe, ALP
Mark Haines, President of the SGLBA, said, “We are really excited about being part of this important event and hope it will encourage community discussion and debate in the political process. Most importantly, this is a forum for community members to speak directly with politicians across the political spectrum. I can’t think of another event that will provide members of our community with a more direct opportunity to press politicians on the issues that matter to them. Come along, bring your friends and have your say!”
Each of the organisations involved has identified a number of issues arising from their work with the LGBTI community.
ACON President Mark Orr commented that “our extremely diverse communities face a number of shared and distinct issues. There are a number of health areas where health outcomes are different from the wider community and more targeted approaches are needed. For example, we experience higher levels of mental health problems, homophobic violence and far higher rates of smoking, drug and alcohol addiction than the wider community. And around 12,000 people are living with HIV in NSW.”
Justin Koonin, Convenor of the GLRL, noted that “while there have been many positive reforms around discrimination and inclusion in legislation and policy – there still remains significant gaps.”
Fran Bowron, SGLMG Co-Chair, said, “The Fair Play project and the Mardi Gras Accord are significant initiatives in place to help address community concerns around safety at Mardi Gras and all LGBTQI events. We encourage all members of our communities to use this opportunity to participate further in the ongoing discussions and have your voice heard.”
NSW State Election Forum
Date and Time: 25 February, 6:30 pm
Location: Turner Hall at Ultimo TAFE
Cost: FREE
RSVP here: http://nswstateelectionforum2015.eventbrite.com. (Bookings are essential)
