Same sex marriage in culturally, linguistically and religious communities.

[Donte]

We have come a long way in Australia since homosexuality was decriminalised in 1981. Same sex marriage is now legal however many culturally and linguistically diverse communities have difficulty accepting this human rights issue. And so do most churches and religious organizations.

There is a lot of stigma and shame and many gaps in communities to address the needs of the LGBTI non-English speaking or culturally diverse people. LGBTI people and their families in every community need resources that are designed to specifically address their concerns or issues. LGBTI people are an important, valuable and integral part of society and every community who have the right to peaceful, safe, happy. supportive lives and relationships.

Culturally and linguistically diverse communities require special assistance, information, education, resources and support in embracing diversity and overcoming issues of resentment, fear, disgust, shame, hatred, confusion, shock, stigma and discrimination that in the past has been projected towards their LGBTI family members or loved ones.

It’s time that we start to develop a better understanding and become more familiar with the issues affecting our LGBTI communities and their families within the various religious and cultural groups in order to help reduce discomfort, break down the stigma, reduce the risks of LGBTI individuals developing mental health issues, self-harming or even feeling so devastated at the lack of support that they even take their own lives.

Luckily, lately there have been positive cultural, legal and societal shifts globally regarding the LGBTI community. It’s time for us to open our hearts, expand our minds, listen, learn and support our LGBTI non-English speaking communities.

Gay and Lesbian Police Liaison Officers are based in over 100 police stations across Melbourne, have specific knowledge of LGBTI communities and are sensitive to the issues the different parts of the community face. GLLO’s deal with prejudice motivated crimes and incidents which are wholly or partly motivated by prejudice or hatred towards a person or group- because of particular characteristics including sexual orientation or gender identity.

It is not illegal to live with or love someone from the same sex in Australia but it’s illegal to discriminate, harass or bully LGBTI people.

What things do you need to challenge in your self, your family, your community or religious group in regards to LGBTI people?

[white knight]

Hi Donte

I'm straight, married, adult kids, but I grew up in the 60's and 70's when homophobia was rife especially in the ADF where one could call it superphobia.

At 62yo I can now say that is well into the past. Friends my own age however continue to cloud the clearer waters of LBGTIQ facts. And this brings me to my point. Regardless of all the positivity of the gay marriage voting period many people are still fixated in a negative way about the topic. A niece of mine, a pastor at a evangelical "radical" church said "I have gay friends, I accept them into my life, one day Jesus will heal them". I no longer see her.

I believe that all that can be done has been done. Keep pushing forward by all means but we are now dealing with evolution of society and that is like the "green machine" - the Army, it moves at a slow pace.

Here is a thread I wrote on the importance of our gay people in our community.

Topic: Not conventional?- you are still a jigsaw piece- beyondblue

Cheers Tony WK

[Donte]

Thank you Tony,

Great to hear from you on the topic. I agree we have a long way to go in regards to human rights in Australia in many areas. But we have made progress in the anti discrimination and equality issue.

Personally I’m not pro-marriage per se, but I have been married to a person of the opposite sex for 15 years and also had an 8 year relationship with a person of the same sex in the past. I’m not interested to repeat either but for those who wish to commit to another person and live in a monogamous relationship then marriage should be an available option if they choose to pursue it. That’s why I voted Yes.

The whole voting thing was of course deeply offensive and damaging for millions LGBTIQ Australians. I mean who voted for your marriage? And why should someone else’s beliefs and opinions have to affect my choice to marry?

And you are right, change in legislation or not, the reality is police still deals daily with prejudice motivated crimes and incidents which are wholly or partly motivated by prejudice or hatred towards a person or group- because of particular characteristics including sexual orientation or gender identity.

If we look at the history and vilification of LGBTI communities with Nazi Germany and Hitler for example, marking all same sex attracted prisoners with pink triangle tattoos, that his soldiers used as live shooting practise, the institutionalisation of homosexuals until the 70’s to mental health clinics, incarceration, torture and even death of hundreds of thousands of LGBTI individuals throughout time we can understand why it is still of pivotal importance to break down the stigma especially in religious dominated culturally and linguistically diverse groups and communities.

Victoria legalised adoption from same sex couples in 2017. Homosexuality was decriminalised in Australia in 1981. Yet, globally, 74 countries still have laws which makes LGBTI relationships illegal. 44 countries a criminalising sex between lesbian and bisexual women. 40 countries retain a” gay panic clause which enables people to use as a defence for committing crimes such as assault or murder that they were provoked because the person was gay, lesbian or bisexual. 17 countries prohibit propaganda which means any promotion of LGBTI communities, events etc. is illegal. 12 countries punish LGBTI relationships by death. Thousands of migrants come from these countries and still carry these notions in their communities. The conversation must continue...

[Donte]

All states and territories in Australia have laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. In addition, anti-discrimination laws prevent harassment, bullying, excluding LGBTI people in the workplace, not giving them the job or promotion, purchasing of goods, accessing accommodation because they’re LGBTI.

It is important to check that our behaviour or language isn’t creating an environment whereby any LGBTI person feels that they can’t be themselves. Allowing inappropriate jokes, attitudes of comments to continue in our home, workplace amongst friends, in public places or spaces is damaging to LGBTI individual’s mental health and impinge on their well health. We all have the responsibility to stop homophobic, bi and transphobic harassment and/or discrimination.

As the Greeks say “a person is born the way they are m; not made”.

There are at least 10,000 children living with same sex parents in Australia. 9 in 10 are lesbian couples. LGBTI people are 3 times more likely to experience depression. 80% of homophobic bullying occurs in schools. 47% of transgender men experience abuse. 37% of transgender women experience abuse. 26% of gay men experience homophobic abuse. 23% of lesbian, same sex attracted, queer, gay women experience homophobic abuse. 6 in 10 LGBTI people experience verbal abuse. 2 in 10 experience physical abuse. 1.7% of children born is Australia are intersex.

So when I hear people saying ‘there are no gays in our commubity’ I roll my eyes so hard it hurts!

[Donte]

There's a Jewish guy down the road from me. He has been living for years now here, in a dark basement, on the corner of our street. Some Muslim dude lives with him. People talk a lot about these two. Even the most modest people in the neighborhood, know adjectives that'll burn!

There are some boys that just never marry girls you know! And they don't lead the life that you lead.
There are some men that just never will. There are dudes who love dudes and they could've been your own children! They are born in any ethnic group and belong to any religion. They speak whatever language and they are of whatever age.

These cross-cultural, same-sex couple never seems to go out together. No one knows how they spend their time but the gossip carries on...

They lead a dark life, people say, drenched in passions that are forbidden by god and men. And everyone with a lot of time on their hands talks about them.

The Jewish old woman next door says that they're drowning in sin, and she gets rid of the kids, when they approach the basement...

During the nights, if you happened to pass by, you hear music and laughter, and if you look inside the basement,
you can see some beautiful flowers in full bloom adorning the lounge room...

This gay Jew is well-known at the local synagogue where many sermons have been preached about his immoral life.
This gay Muslim is frowned upon at the mosque where his father utters prayers and swears that he has disowned him.

Their mothers though, they never forget them
and still light candles and utter prayers
Even if they are one of those boys....

[Donte]

It is such a positive step for humanity, human rights and equality to see the progress in this area globally as cultures who used to punish homosexuality, based on religious grounds and superstitions, are now one by one embracing all aspects of human diversity and sexual orientation.

The decriminalization of homosexuality is taking place globally in such a rapid rate that one cannot simply keep up with the number of countries that each month embrace human rights. The number of countries where anti-gay laws still exist is rapidly reducing.

One of the most recent victories for LGBTIQ+ communities comes from Lebanon.

In a progressive and momentous ruling, on July 12, 2018 a Lebanese Court of Appeals in Mount Lebanon as presided over by Judge Randa Khoury issued a new judgment holding that homosexuality is not a crime. This came as a re-examination of Article 534 of the Lebanese Penal Code (which prohibits having sexual relations that are "contradicting to the laws of nature” - an interpretation that many previously used to prosecute people suspected of homosexuality).

The Court demonstrated a serious departure from previous examinations of Article 534 which considered homosexual relations acts contrary to nature.

Given the procedural history and the appellate nature of this ruling, this verdict represents a milestone in judicial action and a powerful representation of judicial independence, especially considering that this was not the opinion of one judge, rather the result of an appellate court majority. (https://www.beirut.com/l/55881)

Often, culturally and linguistically diverse communities in Australia are more conservative and traditional/religious in comparison to the citizens of the countries they have migrated from. This happens as migrants tend to 'freeze' in time, bringing with them the culture and belief systems of the time of migration.

It's only a matter of time before migrant communities in Australia will catch up with the rest of the world and embrace equal rights and same-sex marriage among their communities.

I believe this will lead to healing of multitudes of mental illnesses caused by discrimination, hatred, prejudice, stigma and marginalisation of thousands of culturally and linguistically diverse LGBTIQ+ people across all communities. These people often get victimized within their own communities as well as externally.

If you need ethno-specific peer-support/info for LGBTIQ+ CALD people contact the AIDS Council in your State.

[Donte]

Many culturally and linguistically diverse communities have formally started the conversation openly with the LGBTIQ+ sections of their communities but also in general within their groups.

Some have commenced collaborations with other ethnic or multicultural agencies.

Recently I saw a report about LGBTIQ+ Muslims based on a research funded by the Multicultural Commision.

Currently, many services examine their cultural inclusive practices and review ways of effective engagement of culturally and linguistically diverse clients.

Within my community there a a couple large service organizations. They provide a range of culturally and linguistically relevant services to meet community needs including early learning centre, aged care services and family and community services which include: counselling, community education, newly arrived settlement service, family violence and elder abuse support, case work, emergency financial assistance and the LGBTI mental health programs.

One of the Greek welfare organizations (Pronia), in collaboration with queerspace and Greek and Gay support network currently offers mental health service for LGBTIQ* Greek people and their families.

Skepsi , means “thought” in Greek. This 12 month project aims to advocate and promote the well- being needs of the Greek LGBTIQ+ population in Melbourne.

The Skepsi project follows on from last year’s LGBTIQ+ project “Starting the Conversation”, also funded by DHHS, which aimed to raise awareness about LGBTIQ+ issues in the Greek community.

The “Starting the Conversation” project identified importance of community education and the need to continue to raise awareness about LGBTIQ+ issues and to advocate for the mental health well being needs of the Australian Greek LGBTIQ+ community and their families.

In addition, the project highlighted the importance of open communication and safe relationships as tools to acceptance, inclusion and security for the LGBTIQ+ Greek community and their families.

What is happening currently in your ethnic group in regards to information, education, support for the mental health and well being of LGBTIQ+ people and their families?

Are you aware of supports and services to assist you?

Beyondblue offers some great support and resources for LGBTIQ+ people and their families including the LGBTIQ+ online forums, counseling, chat and a guide for families.

If you are LGBTIQ+ individual or family member and need support please contact Beyondblue.

[Donte]

We came from different directions, our paths happened to cross, our eyes met for an instant, then we moved off to different directions once more. I probably won't ever run across you again.

[Donte]

PRONIA is a leading Australian Greek community service organisation which provides a range of culturally and linguistically relevant services to meet community needs. For more information please refer to our website:www.pronia.com.au

One of PRONIA’s current projects is “SKEPSI”, meaning “thought” in Greek. This 12 month project aims to advocate and promote the well- being needs of the Australian Greek LGBTI community and their families. Skepsi is funded by the DHHS and delivered in partnership with queerspace- Drummond Street Services.

The Skepsi project follows on from last year’s LGBTI project “Starting the Conversation”, aimed to raise awareness about LGBTI issues in the Greek community. The “Starting the Conversation” project identified the importance of community education to increase awareness about LGBTI issues and to advocate for the mental health well-being needs of the Australian Greek LGBTI community and their families.

The attached link to Monkey Survey will take 4 minutes to complete. The survey seeks responses from professionals about the needs and services available to CALD LGBTI individuals and their families and in particular, the Greek LGBTI community. Your participation in completing the survey contributes to the knowledge and understanding of CALD LGBTI issues, current service availability, accessibility and enhancements required in service delivery.

Information provided will be de-identified and used as an aggregate to explore themes. Please provide your responses by 28 August 2018.



Thank you for your time and your valuable feedback!

SURVEY MONKEY LINK: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/F8JV2NQ

Kindest Regards
The PRONIA Skepsi Team