Submission Group 10

Dear Panel,

I’m writing to express my very strong opposition to the further discrimination against members of the LGBTQI community, as would occur if any further exemptions from discrimination laws were allowed in the name of ‘religious freedom’. 

This is a basic human rights issue, and discrimination from any source towards members of the LGBTQI community should be no more tolerated than discrimination on the basis of gender, race/ethnicity or religion. 

Discrimination and exclusion costs lives.  LGBTQI young people are five times more likely to attempt suicide than the general population, which is a direct result of discrimination and exclusion (https://lgbtihealth.org.au/statistics/), which would only increase if further exemptions to discrimination laws were given on the basis of ‘religious freedom’. 

It is my opinion that the majority of Australians would agree with the above and would in fact be horrified to learn that current laws allow some organisations (such as religious schools) exemptions from anti-discrimination laws that mean they can fire employees for being gay or lesbian, or refuse to enrol students with LGBTQI parents.  It is my opinion that these current legal exemptions are a human rights abuse and should be repealed as soon as possible. 

In 2017, 61.6% of Australians voted to remove the discrimination against gay and lesbian people in the marriage law.  They did not vote for partial equality, but for full equality.

Yours Faithfully,