Lesbian Activism
Victorian Pride Centre action by LAG (Lesbian Action Group)
LAG has initiated a coordinated campaign and details from their media release are shown below.
Help fight the new homophobia
Lesbian group excluded from Victorian Pride Centre.
Government funding is not supporting Victorian lesbians.
Help Us Fight The New Homophobia.
The Lesbian Action Group, a group of lesbians from Melbourne and Central Victoria, applied to hold a lesbian-only event at Victoria’s Pride Centre, in order to celebrate International Lesbian Day on 8th of October. They have also applied to the AHRC for an exemption to do so.
‘During the 1980s and 1990s,’ explains Nicole Mowbray, a founding member of the Lesbian Action Group, ‘I was able to go out to any number of lesbian only events in Melbourne and have fun with my lesbian friends. For the past 20 years the lesbian community has had to go underground and meet in private. We applied to book a space at the Pride Centre so we could once again hold an event that lesbians could enjoy.’
Victoria’s Pride Centre rejected the booking saying it went against their “diversity and inclusion” policies.
Members of the Lesbian Action Group say that the Victorian Pride Centre is discriminating against lesbians and that public funding is not being directed to the best interests of lesbians. They have asked that the Pride Centre management explain why they are excluding lesbians from the purpose-built LGBTIQ centre. The Pride Centre management has refused their request for a meeting.
Lesbians are a distinct cultural group that should have a right to freedom of association. The Pride Centre is discriminating against lesbians and is breaking several international human rights mandates that the Australian Government is signed up to.
‘Lesbians should have a right to assemble in a single-sex space’ says Lesbian Action Group spokeswoman, Carole Ann. ‘It’s about celebrating our lesbian culture in company with our lesbian community as we used to be able to do.’
Carole Ann lesbian.action.group@gmail.com
Nicole Mowbray nicole.mowbray@lgballiance.org.au
Available for interviews by the media.
CONTACT LIST
justine.dallariva@pridecentre.org.au CEO Justine Della Riva
craig.bell@pridecentre.org.au Chair of the Board
david.imber@pridecentre.org.au Deputy Chair of the Board
scott.hartley@pridecentre.org.au Treasurer
judy.tang@pridecentre.org.au Board director
melinds.rich@pridecentre.org.au Board director
alan.wu@pridecentre.org.au Board director
tara.laurenson@pridecentre.org.au Board director
jane.crawley@pridecentre.org.au Board director
contact@pridecentre.org.au
Staff:
Kerry Taylor, Anita Fiorenza, Max Haywood, Bree McKilligan
Patron:
Hon Michael Kirby AC CMG
Ambassadors:
Amao Leota Lu amaoleotalu@gmail.com
Benjamin Law http://benjamin-law.com
Courtney Act http://courteyact.com
Julie McCrossin www.juliemccrossin.com
Tony Briffa http://briffa.org
G Flip Greg Axtens Rhonda Galbally Zoe Coombs Marr Tony Ayers
You might want to hit them where the money comes from…
PARTNERS:
Vic State Gov; City of Port Phillip; Chemist Warehouse; Lifeview; L’Oreal Australia; Splunk; Cashman & Wakefield; Hall & Wilcox; Minter Ellison; Harvest Insights; Scotchmans Hill; Broadtree; Sydney Myer Fund; Lord Mayors Charitable Fund; Gandel Foundation
There are also groups who use the centre (Who lives here) and groups who are supported by the centre (Directory) found on their website
MPs:
The Hon Harriet Shing Minister For Equality (03)9637 9654 harriet.shing@parliament.vic.gov.au
Mr James Newbury Shadow Minister For Equality (03)9592 1900 James.Newbury@parliament.vic.gov.au
Useful Links:
https://www.lgballiance.org.au/news/the-acon-word-count
More mainstream LGBTQ+ organisations failing the LGB — LGB Alliance Australia
https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/legal/exemption-applications-under-sex-discrimination-act-1984-cth
SAMPLE LETTERS
Dear ……
I am writing to express my deep concern that lesbians have been denied the use of Pride Centre facilities.
I am pretty sure this is illegal under the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth). If it isn’t illegal it certainly isn’t fair and just.
I am curious as to why, in the name of inclusion, the pride Centre is excluding a group which is supposedly under the LGBTQIA+ banner. Lesbians who were born female have a particular culture, needs, experiences of discrimination not shared by other groups. They need their own spaces.
I wholeheartedly support the right of any group to meet on occasion with those from their own particular subset of LGBTQIA+. I don’t understand why this is a problem for you. I believe in fact that I have seen events and groups exclusively for trans people. How is this different?
I look forward to your explanation.
Etc etc etc
Dear…….
I am part of the group of people currently being denied use of the Pride Centre facilities.
I am heartbroken that I am being excluded from what is supposed to be a place I should feel safe in. I would love to attend a celebration of Internation Lesbian Day with my sisters, at the Pride Centre. Please explain why I can’t do that.
Etc etc etc
Dear …..
Are you aware that a significant group within the LGBTIQ+ community have been denied the right to hold a function there to celebrate International Lesbian Day on October 8th. Pride Centre management have refused our booking, and further refused a meeting to discuss the matter.
The group wish to hold an event specifically for lesbians. We/they would like to be able to celebrate this special day amongst themselves. It is unconceivable that they have been turned down.
Etc etc etc
Dear ….
I believe you are a sponsor for the Victorian Pride Centre. Are you aware that they are discriminating against a group that they claim to be under their umbrella, namely lesbians.
They have refused…….
Etc etc etc