Over the last decade, most of the laws that formally discriminate against the LGBT community have been changed slowly but surely. But there are still pockets of discrimination. Nowhere is this more evident that if you want to have a family. Family is a loaded word when you are gay. Those who fight against same sex marriage are always using the idea of a nuclear ‘normal’ family as the defence for their belief in the idea that marriage should remain an exclusively heterosexual institution. While we as a society are becoming more comfortable with seeing gay people on our television screens, in magazines, in pop songs and in politics, we still haven’t quite gotten used to the idea that a children might grow up with two daddies or two mummies.
For example, in Victoria, same sex parents still cannot legally adopt their own children – even if they’ve been raising them for years. The non-biological parent in a same sex couples can be appointed foster parents or guardians by an application to the courts but gay couples cannot adopt a child together. After nearly two decades of advocacy and campaigning for adoption reform, the new Andrews government announced last year it would remove the remaining formal discrimination against gay couples at a state level, including overhauling the state’s antiquated adoption laws. Last month, the state’s first ever Equality Minister Martin Foley announced he had appointed a Q.C. Eamonn Moran to oversee a review of Victoria’s adoption laws. The review is currently accepting submissions, and will hand down its findings in May. The proposed changes will hopefully be tabled in parliament by mid-year but there is no guarantee the new laws will pass the state’s Upper House. If they do pass, Victoria will be brought into line with NSW, ACT, WA and Tasmania where gay adoption is already allowed.
At a federal level, Tony Abbott recently committed more funding to create a one-stop shop agency for overseas adoption to help encourage more Australians to adopt children from overseas, as the numbers of overseas adoptions hit record lows. But don’t get too excited these changes won’t help gay couples who want to adopt. As a legacy of Howard’s 2004 reforms, same sex couples still cannot legally adopt children from overseas. Tony has no plans to change that particular piece of formal discrimination, so fuck you very much.
This Easter weekend, as we’ve mentioned there are a plethora of parties to keep you going for an unholy four day weekend.
Kick off with POOF DOOF’s Good Friday Eve Doof this Thursday April 2. The Good Doof will see all the regular Doof residents playing against each other with Sunshine vs Luke McD, DJ Argonaut v Kam Shafaati and Salvador Darlings v Jive Wilson and more as well as a bevy of hairless and shirtless boys. At Chasers in Chapel Street from 10pm. $20 entry. For details, visit poofdoof.com.
If you can’t be bothered crossing the river or if you prefer your gays to keep their shirts on, Thursgay will be throwing their own Good Friday Eve bash which promises to be packed with Fitzroy hipsters, baby dykes and 90’s pop tunes. From 9pm till 1am. Mr Wow’s Wonder Emporium, Smith Street, Fitzroy.
On Easter Sunday, CHURCH will throw the final Sunday session of the season with a big Easter bash – the Resurrection before closing up for the winter months and going monthly. From 3pm till 11pm. Free entry at Mr Scruff’s, 60 Smith Street Collingwood. This last hurrah will feature CC:DISCO, JLAW, MIMI and surprise special guests, free ice creams and prizes. For more information visit facebook.com/closetpartyoz.
For those who want to continue the theme of hairy and beary after the Thick N Juicy party on Saturday, The Peel and the Laird are together hosting Woof Club. Woof Club is a boys-only party with a dirty dress code and a “no cologne” policy. On Easter Sunday, Woof Club celebrates its 10th birthday from 3pm – 11pm at the Peel, with recovery at the Laird. Tickets are $40 and are available from mannhaus.com.au and Eagle Leather.
The Sapphic sisters of the south side will also be coming together on Easter Sunday for Sundaylicious, the monthly LGBTIQ Sunday session thrown by Pinkalicious. Free entry from 4pm till late at the Wharf Hotel 18-38 Siddleley Street Melbourne (next to the World Trade Centre) with DJs Haylenise, Kista and Magnus.
If you want to keep going after all that, Sydney’s lesbian party queens Girlthing will be throwing a Easter Sunday night party at The Laundry with DJ Sveta, Mafia and Leather Locklear on the decks. From 9pm till 3am. For details visit facebook.com/girlthingparty.
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