Gay News from GXR News

We live in a society which attempts to dictate sexual preference and gender identity through promoting the gender stereotypes and homophobic attitudes which underpin the heterosexual nuclear family, and by promoting marriage and the nuclear family as the only legitimate model for relationships. Lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgendered people suffer oppression because their lives are a challenge to the nuclear family which is an economic cornerstone of capitalism. The Socialist Alliance opposes all attempts to shoehorn people into sexual and gender conformity. We believe it is a basic democratic right that a persons’ self-definition of sexual preference and gender identity should be recognised. Heterosexism exists at almost every level in this society, and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity is entrenched in all of the key institutions of society - education, health, the law, the media, family, church and state.

The Socialist Alliance supports politically independent and self-organizing social movements that fight the oppression of women, lesbians and gay men, transgendered people, people with HIV and sex workers through mass action, public demonstrations, lobbying, voting and by building alliances with the broader working class, feminist, and anti-capitalist movements.

We oppose sexism, racism, ageism, and discrimination against people with disabilities within the lesbian and gay communities, as we do in the broader community.

In government the Socialist Alliance will:

* Enact enforceable anti-discrimination legislation to protect lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, people living with HIV/AIDS and transgendered people. We will remove existing exemptions for private schools, religious organisations, the insurance industry, the tax system, superannuation etc; legislate for the right of transgendered people to be issued with passports, drivers licences and other documents specifying the gender of their choice.

* Legislate full social, legal, Trade union and industrial recognition of same sex relationships. This would include extending to same sex relationships equal status with heterosexual de factos in superannuation, immigration, taxation, family law, industrial relations and any other laws and regulations; ensure the right of gays and lesbians to choose to marry if they so wish; provide independent incomes [Newstart, Pensions, etc] for all regardless of relationship status - this will end state-enforced economic dependency.

* Guarantee the right of gay men and lesbians to adopt or foster children and end discrimination against gay men and lesbians in child custody cases;

* Legislate against use of non-violent homosexual “advance” as a defence of “provocation” in violent crime.

* Provide full state funding for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth programs including refuges and housing services, health services, coming out, self-esteem and suicide prevention programs;

* All public funding for education, youth, aged, health, employment and welfare to be directed though non-discriminatory government and/or secular non-profit community organizations. Education in schools to incorporate positive material on homosexuality and transgender.

* Support Pride Marches, the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, film and video festivals and other queer community events; defend and extend gay, lesbian and transgender programming on the ABC, SBS and community broadcasters; work vigorously for an end to the vicious and destructive portrayal of gay men, lesbians and transgender people in some sections of the media.

* Support gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered workers; promote strong policies within unions to defend gay, lesbian and transgendered workers; support the establishment of gay and lesbian caucuses within trade unions.

Source: socialist-alliance.org