Councillor Chris Harris

This week Senator Kerry Nettle introduced The Marriage (Relationships Equality) Amendment Bill 2007 into the Senate. The bill aims to remove discrimination and to permit marriage regardless of sexuality and gender identity.

The new definition of marriage is “the union of two persons, regardless of their sexuality or gender identity, voluntarily entered into for life.” Existing discrimination must be overturned because freedom of sexuality and gender identity are fundamental human rights, and acceptance and celebration of diversity are essential for genuine social justice and equality.

Such discrimination is also a significant cause of psychological distress and the Greens think it is essential to alleviate such serious health concerns wherever possible.

The Mardi Gras Fair Day held yesterday in Victoria Park enjoyed perfect weather and a packed crowd. I planted a heart for equal rights along with fellow Greens Candidates Rochelle Porteous and Fiona Byrne, and Senator Kerry Nettle (all pictured here with one of the Gay & Lesbian Rights Lobby organisers).

Interestingly a bunch of Labor candidates turned up for the same photo op. The difference is The Greens vote for same sex unions and Labor vote against it. See you at the Mardi Gras on March 3rd!

Chris Harris served up a storm at the 13^th birthday celebrations of the Luncheon Club Aids Support Group Inc. With the Governor of NSW Ms Marie Bashir on mash potato duty and Chris on gravy, 80 guests celebrated 13 years of home-style cooking and community support.

Said Chris: “It was a privilege for me to lend a hand serving lunch today. Thirteen years ago Carole Ann King founded the Luncheon Club. It started as one lunch but was such a success that everyone insisted ’same time same place next week’. That was back in 1993 and Carole Ann is still helping the HIV community 13 years later.”

“The Luncheon Club is a real eye opener to what can be done with very little money and a stacks of community spirit. I was lucky enough to talk to a lot of the guests. Some of them were diagnosed with HIV over 10 years ago. Today they’re chatting away, tucking into real home-cooking.”

“I was glad that I could lend a hand on such an important occasion and I wish the Luncheon Club a very Happy Birthday with many more lunches to come.”

Media Release

There was strong interest in the Forum on Homophobic Violence on Oxford Street held at Slide on Tuesday evening. Those who attended were local residents, the Darlinghurst Business partnership, City of Sydney’s new acting CEO Monica Barone, ACON President Adrian Lovney, Det Inspector David Egan-Lee from the Surry Hills Police plus many members of the local GLBTI community. Greens Cr. Chris Harris was the only City of Sydney Councillor to attend the meeting.

Speaker after speaker reinforced that physical violence and verbal vilification of the GLBTI community was a regular feature of life on Oxford St particularly in the higher risk times of Thursday-Saturday evenings.

Many speakers spoke about the importance of having a more visible police force as a way to curb aggressive behaviour towards GLBTI men and women. Views were mixed on the installation of CCTV cameras on Oxford St with privacy concerns and fears that the cameras would be used for other agendas aside from that of anti violence raised.

Read the rest of this entry »

An excellent turnout from the Greens at Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras last week.

One of our active ISG members, Michael is a professional photographer and took dozens of great pictures.

Featured here is one of myself (in blue) standing by the rainbow flag together with state parliamentarian Lee Rhiannon (yellow) and federal Senator Kerry Nettle (orange).

A couple of more snaps below showing our large happy crowd donning the rainbow colours, celebrating sexual diversity and keeping up the pressure for absolute equality.

Read the rest of this entry »