When I discovered that the Australian Human Rights Commission would not hear any sexual preference discrimination complaints (other than employment complaints), I wrote the Minister Tanya Plibersek a Letter.

I was stupid, in that I mentioned the Telstra Ad that had spurred me to look into making a complaint when I wrote the letter, and of course, this is what The World and Tanya focused on. 

I asked Tanya to explain to me why there was a discrepancy at www.humanrights.gov.au surrounding sexual preference discrimination. Tanya had assured me in person a few weeks earlier that there were NO DIFFERENCES between Homosexual people and Heterosexual People in terms of Government Policy (Apart from Marriage). So I was shocked and confused to find this discrepancy on their website.

My issue is that the Australian Human Rights Commission WILL NOT handle a complaint made about Sexual Preference Discrimination (Unless it is specific to Employment, and only employment).

Why can’t they handle sexual preference complaints?

Because it’s the Law.

Who can change the Law?

Politicians.

Who is a politican?

Tanya Plibersek.

What does Tanya Plibersek say about the fact that the Australian Human Rights Commission is bound by a discriminatory law that has supposed to have been fixed?

Because I was stupid enough to preface my letter by mentioning Telstra, Tanya went on to give me advice on how to complain about the Telstra Commercial. I really wish I had not mentioned it, because it subsequently meant that Tanya did not answer my question as to WHY the Australian Human Rights Commission is not legally capable of handling Sexual Preference Discrimination complaints that fall outside of the realm of Employment Issues.

I want to know why this law has not been changed?

I will have to respond and ask Tanya again.
 
If you choose to comment on this Article, do me, the world, and yourself a favour, and don’t mention Telstra or their stupid Ad.

THIS IS NOT ABOUT TELSTRA

So I’ve sent Tanya Plibersek an email via the ALP website contact form, here it is:

I will post Tanya’s response, as soon as I get it.

If you wish to send Tanya Plibersek a letter, you can do so here : 
ALP website contact Tanya Plibersek form

She’s lovely, but she can’t help us… Yet.

Minister for Housing; Minister for the Status of Women.

Last week, I had the pleasure of meeting this extraordinary woman. It was the annual Glebe fair, and Tanya and our local member (both members of the Australian Labor Party) had set up a Labor stand on the street, and were generously answering questions all day. Now I have to be honest, I’ve seen this lady on TV, in fact, I watched her with awe as she verbally annihilated Joe Hockey on channel Seven the night that Kevin Rudd won the Federal Election. She smiled, she laughed, and when Kevin Rudd gave his victory speech, she cried. She is, if ever there was, an honest and down to earth Member of Parliament.

So what did I do? 

I asked her about Gay Marriage.

Now, it’s important to mention that from my discussions with Tanya, I’m convinced that she supports the notion of Gay Marriage. She indicated that she had been the MC at her gay friends commitment ceremony, and that she has a long history (being the ALP’s member for Sydney) of being positive and supportive to the gay community.

That said, my issue is not then with Tanya Plibersek the lovely lady I met in Glebe that day, My issue is with the Honourable Tanya Plibersek, Minister for Housing and Minister for the status of Women. Side note: Women and their status get a minister? But gay people don’t? Okay

Anyway, she pointed out to Kyle and I that as Gay men, we should be proud of how far the Rudd Government has progressed in removing a number of discriminatory policies and laws that in the past made our partnership basically null and void. She went on to tell me that as Defacto’s we have the exact same rights and protections as any Married Couple. I was grateful and indicated my pleasure at these facts, but I asked again, “But what about Gay Marriage?” She then pulled a face not entirely dissimilar to this one: 

But it only lasted a second. Then she went back to smiling (and its a beautiful smile) and she reminded me that a few years ago, gay people were getting bashed in the streets. That we have come a LONG way, and that I should remember where I come from.

I asked again, what her policy was on Gay Marriage.

She told me not to get caught up on the word, and that if my relationship was meaningful that should be all that counts. “Marriage is just a word” – Well, if it is just a word, then why wont you let us use it?

She admitted, that whilst her personal opinion may differ, “It is not Labors Policy to support Gay Marriage.”

Oh, no. Well, if Labor is the left wing party (not taking into account the greens), and not even the left wing party of Australia is willing to make it law that any Australian be entitled to Marriage, then who the hell is going to fight for us? Certainly not the right wing and conservative Australian Liberal Party.

So, basically, we are screwed.

As nice as Tanya is, and I mean it, she really is nice, I was so depressed to hear her tell me that it was not ALP policy to support Gay Marriage.

So, this is a rant. I’m going to write her a letter and I will post it when I’m done. If you feel like writing her a letter, please do! She will probably tell you the same thing she told me, but it can’t hurt.

The Hon Tanya Plibersek, Suite M1 45 Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600
Ministerial Office Suite 4&5, Level 10 Commonwealth Parliamentary Offices 70 Phillip St Sydney NSW 2000
Sydney Electorate Office 422 Crown Street Surry Hills, NSW, 2010

Or email her here

By the way, if you ever get a chance to meet Tanya Plibersek in person, do me a favour and compliment her on her smile. I wish I had when I met her, she really does have a killer smile.