In the wake of a historic collaboration, a diverse coalition of welfare, health, family, faith, women’s, and LGBTIQ+ groups have united to urge the NSW government to endorse the NSW Equality Legislation Amendment (LGBTIQA+) Bill 2023.

This landmark bill aims to dismantle legal discrimination against LGBTIQ+ individuals, fostering a more equitable society.

The joint letter, undersigned by 80 prominent organizations—including the Australian Services Union, NCOSS, Women’s Health NSW, Women’s Electoral Lobby, Pitt Street Uniting Church, the Black Dog Institute, and Rainbow Families—appeals to NSW Premier Chris Minns to champion equality and inclusivity.

The letter highlights the deficiencies in NSW’s current laws, which are deemed among the nation’s most discriminatory against LGBTIQ+ communities. The signatories call for legislative change to ensure equality for all people and families in NSW.

Parliamentary hearings are set to review Independent MP Alex Greenwich’s Equality Bill. This bill proposes to eliminate exceptions that permit religious schools and organizations to discriminate against LGBTQ+ individuals. It also seeks to enhance protection against violence and acknowledge a broader spectrum of rainbow families.

NSW remains one of the few states imposing harsh and unnecessary hurdles for trans and gender-diverse individuals, including the controversial requirement of surgery on reproductive organs to obtain ID documents that reflect their true identity.

It encapsulates the collective voice of numerous organizations advocating for the NSW Equality Legislation Amendment (LGBTIQA+) Bill 2023. Their unified stance underscores the urgency of legislative reform to achieve true equality and protection for all members of society, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation.