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LETTER FROM THE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION STAFF

[Late 2007] the SPACE: Queer Allies Noticeboard on level 3 in Building 220 was vandalised with homophobic abuse.


This action has prompted a positive response from the School of Education: to increase the visibility of queer-related initiatives; and to provide further support to gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex staff and students within our school.


Affirming and respecting difference is fundamental to the values and professional principles that underpin our programs at RMIT University. As staff members within the School of Education, we seek to:


  • provide a safe and supportive environment for all staff and students;
  • promote understanding, respect and support of gender and sexual diversity;
  • build bridges between people of diverse backgrounds and identities;
  • model inclusive teaching and learning practices;
  • encourage critical self-reflection in respect to our values, attitudes and beliefs about diversity.


As a team, we offer our full support to any staff/students that viewed this homophobic abuse and were hurt or offended by it. SPACE: Queer Allies Networkwas recently set up to support gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex (GLBTI) pre-service teachers and staff in education at RMIT. We encourage you to speak to one of our Queer Allies (as indicated in our staff list below) about any homophobic/transphobic abuse you witness or experience, along with gender and sexual diversity related issues impacting on your study at RMIT.


The School of Education also extends an invitation to all staff/students (of all sexualities and gender identifications) to join SPACE: Queer Allies Network which meets regularly on the first Tuesday of each month between 3:45-4:45pm in 220.3.24.


Finally, we encourage you to join with us in supporting sexual and gender diversity at RMIT. A letter relating to this incident is posted on the Queer Allies Noticeboard (Building 220, Level 3) – please add your name to it.

  • Annette Gough, *Barbara Chancellor *Anne Wilks *Kathy Jordan *Jo Virgona *Jane Edwards *Maree MacMillan *Susan Elliott *Geoff Shacklock (Queer Ally)*Mary Hanrahan (Queer Ally) *Michael Crowhurst (Queer Ally)*Jennifer Ellesden-Clifton *Peter Meaney *Margarita Breed (Queer Ally) *Joan Dias *Nicky Carr *Michelle Parente *Berenice Nyland *Gloria Latham *Anna Rundell *Greg Curran (Queer Ally) *Linda McClosky *Heather Fehring *Lynne Hoare *Natt Pimpa *Narelle Lemon (Queer Ally) *Jude Ocean (Queer Ally) *Julie Faulkner (Queer Ally) *Christine Walta *Nicole DiMarco *Arda Culpan *Aleksandra Vuckovic *Anita Duff


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The Fight for Equality - Pre-Election News 2007





Federal Election 07

  • Senate Election Guide - Read where your Senate preferences go




  • Timber Communities Australia - Anti-gay campaign - Read about it here




  • "JOHN Howard has told his partyroom gay and lesbian couples should not be given the same rights as defacto heterosexual couples" - Patricia Karvelas (13/9/07) *Read about it here.
  • Here's Rodney Croome's response




  • Rights Lobby invites 'Gay Hate Pastor' and Liberal Candidate to speak at Gay and Lesbian Forum




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Education News

"Right now we don’t know exactly how anti-gay hate expressed itself in the murder of Lawrence King. We do know is that he was harassed on a daily basis because of his sexual orientation and gender expression. We do know that adults at his junior high school did not stop it and that kind of tolerance of anti-gay bigotry is pervasive in our nation’s schools. Our hearts go out to Lawrence’s family — and to all young lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender kids who are — right now, right this minute — being bullied and beaten in school while adults look the other way." Matt Foreman - National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Link


"It was heartbreaking to learn about Lawrence King's death, and my thoughts and prayers go out to his family. King's senseless death is a tragic example of the corrosive effect that bigotry and fear can have in our society. It's also an urgent reminder that we need to do more in our schools to foster tolerance and an acceptance of diversity; that we must enact a federal hate crimes law that protects all LGBT Americans; and that we must recommit ourselves to becoming active and engaged parents, citizens and neighbors, so that bias and bigotry cannot take hold in the first place. We all have a responsibility to help this nation live up to its founding promise of equality for all."

Barack Obama Link


"I was deeply saddened by the recent death of 15-year-old Lawrence King who was killed at his school in Oxnard, CA. No one should face intimidation or violence, particularly at school, because of their sexual orientation or the way they express their gender identity. We must finally enact a federal hate crimes law to ensure that gay, lesbian and transgender Americans are protected against violent, bias-motivated crimes. We must send a unified message that hate-based crime will not be tolerated."

Hillary Clinton Link


"It was only two letters, but said a lot more. The lead paragraph of a Dec. 19 Associated Press article reported “Southern Utah University says a transgendered student must prove its gender in order to live in an all-male dormitory.” Language can be tricky when discussing transgender issues, but referring to a human being as “it” is beyond demeaning. The AP should FOLLOW its own stylebook, which instructs reporters to refer to transgender people as the gender they prefer." Southern Voice - 4/1/08


Barack Obama: (USA Democrat) "...you know, the fact is, my 9-year-old and my 6-year-old's – I think, are already aware that there are same-sex couples. And my wife and I have talked about it. And one of the things I want to communicate to my children is not to be afraid of people who are different, and because there have been times in our history where I was considered different...And one of the things I think the next president has to do is to stop fanning people's fears...." weblink

March 08


February 08

Canada - Day of Action on Organ ban --Spaceadmin 10:09, 23 February 2008 (EST)


January 08



December 07


November 07



October 07


September 07



August 07


July 07


June 07


April/May 07



General

April 07

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World News

  • See News archive for older articles