The Greens have noted today’s poll showing nearly 80% of Austra

Senator RICE (Victoria) (11:55):  I, and on behalf of Senator Pratt, move:

That the Senate:

(a) notes that:

            (i) 17 May 2018 is International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia, lntersexism and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), and

            (ii) IDAHOBIT is an opportunity to acknowledge the discrimination, exclusion and violence that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) people still face in Australia and overseas; and

(b) calls on all parliamentarians to:

*788 Senator Rice: To move - That the Senate:

1. Notes that:

1. Saturday March 31^st is Transgender Day of Visibility;
2. Transgender Day of Visibility is an opportunity to publicly affirm and celebrate trans and gender-diverse people's lives, their stories and their contributions to our communities.

MEDIA RELEASE - 1 March 2018

Wagga Wagga 78er challenges new Deputy Prime Minister to join him at Mardi Gras

Ray Goodlass a resident of Wagga Wagga and one of the famous Mardi Gras 78ers has extended an invitation to new Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack to join him at the 40^th anniversary Mardi Gras parade in Sydney.

In 1993 as editor of the Daily Advertiser in Wagga Wagga, McCormack wrote incredibly inflammatory and homophobic remarks in regards to the LGBTQIA+ community. McCormack has since released an apology for those remarks.

It has been revealed in the Government Mid-Year Economic Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) that the marriage equality postal survey came in $41.5m under budget; this must now go towards mental health services for LGBTIQ people, the Australian Greens said today. 

“While we are all overjoyed about finally achieving marriage equality in Australia, this survey should never have happened in the first place and it was a huge outlay of tax payer money for an unnecessary exercise that hurt our LGBTIQ communities,” said Senator Janet Rice, the Australian Greens LGBTIQ spokesperson.

The Australian Greens welcome today’s Family Court decision that will allow trans young people to access the medication they need on the advice of their medical professionals, without having to go through an time consuming and expensive court process.

“This is a great result for all trans and gender diverse young people,” said Senator Janet Rice, Australian Greens LGBTIQ spokesperson.

The Australian Greens have secured senate support for a motion calling for the $20 million not spent in the marriage equality postal survey to be directed to mental health services.  

“The marriage equality survey came in $20 million under budget, meanwhile mental health services were put under immense pressure due to the scrutiny inflicted on the LGBTIQ community, having a significant impact on their mental health”, Australian Greens spokesperson on Mental Health Senator Rachel Siewert said today.  

On Monday 27th of November, 2017, Lee gave the following speech in the Senate.

 To Senator Dean Smith: thank you so much for your speech. I found it incredibly moving and it captured the unique circumstances that are about to deliver marriage equality. To senators Janet Rice, Penny Wong, Louise Pratt and Sarah Hanson-Young: your speeches also took us into the intensity of this issue in terms of people's feelings and the long road that it has taken to get us to this point. Thank you so much for your words and actions. I found them extremely moving.