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Australia Day 2023 honours for elder abuse law trailblazer, Indigenous activist and a fossil hunter | The Guardian

Australia Day 2023 honours for elder abuse law trailblazer, Indigenous activist and a fossil hunter

Australia Day honours recipients from left: solicitor Rodney Lewis AM, First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria member Leanne Miller AM and Aleph Melbourne co-convener Michael Barnett OAM
Australia Day honours recipients from left: solicitor Rodney Lewis AM, First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria member Leanne Miller AM and Aleph Melbourne co-convener Michael Barnett OAM

Other recipients whose work might go under the national radar, but were transformative, include Michael Barnett for service to the LGBTQ+ community, the palaeontologist Lesley Kool, and Leanne Miller for “significant service to women’s affairs, and to the Indigenous community”.

Barnett, a co-convener of Aleph Melbourne, said he worried about suicide rates and mental health issues in vulnerable young people, because of “relentless and pointless homophobic and transphobic intolerance”.

He worked hard to turn things around in one specific community.

“Over the years of my advocacy and activism I have seen Melbourne’s Jewish community become a beacon of LGBTIQ+ inclusion,” he said.

Australia Day 2023 honours for elder abuse law trailblazer, Indigenous activist and a fossil hunter

Media Release: Australia Day Honours for Michael Barnett

Media Release
Australia Day Honours for Michael Barnett

Aleph Melbourne is proud to announce that our co-convenor, Michael Barnett, has been awarded the Order of Australia Medal in the 2023 Australia Day Honours List.  

Michael has been an integral part of Aleph Melbourne, and receiving an Order of Australia recognises the tireless work he has undertaken in the Jewish community in Melbourne.

His work has spanned nearly 30 years, and the award acknowledges his dedication and devotion to ensuring that the community is welcoming of all gender and orientations.

Michael has provided a welcoming place for hundreds of people over the years, and has been at the forefront of fighting for the dignity and humanity of people from diverse genders and sexual orientations. 

From arranging Shabbat meals and social get togethers to taking on the might of the establishment, he was worked tirelessly to make life just a little better for the community.

The award shows that his tenacity of efforts has paid dividends, as witnessed by the growing ‘Jews of Pride’ participation in Melbourne Pride March each year.  What started as a small group marching with Aleph Melbourne has now expanded to many organisations and hundreds of people marching under the ‘Jews of Pride’ banner.

Michael Barnett OAM, congratulations, Aleph Melbourne is delighted that your hard work has been recognised.

Colin Krycer
Co-convenor – Aleph Melbourne

colin@aleph.org.au

Jewish Leaders Want to Ban Kanye West from Australia: ‘Don’t Want You Here’ | Newsweek

LGBTQ groups are also wary of Ye’s presence in the country, noting his apparent backflip in his support for the community when he invited rapper DaBaby to perform with him at his Donda album listening party in 2021. DaBaby has made multiple homophobic comments in the past.

“Until such time as Ye has unambiguously demonstrated he is a true friend of the Jewish people and has distanced himself from his hurtful antisemitic comments, and similarly has proven he is an LGBTIQ+ ally at least to the level he was in 2005, I support calls for the Australian government to deny him entry on character grounds,” said Michael Barnett, co-convenor of Aleph Melbourne, a Jewish LGBTQ group.

Jewish Leaders Want to Ban Kanye West from Australia: ‘Don’t Want You Here’

Jewish sessions @ Queer Screen 2023

Queer Screen

Enjoy these Jewish films at the Mardi Gras Film Festival, running from February 15 to March 2 2022. Session and booking details online.

Make Me A King

Screening in Sydney as part of the Youth Shorts session is Make Me A King:

Ari performs as a Jewish Drag King, much to the confusion of their family. Idolising real-life hero, Pepi Littman, who carved out a space for Drag Kings over 100 years ago, they use this history to open up a space for acceptance in the present.

Monsieur Le Butch

Screening in Sydney as part of the Trans and Gender Diverse Shorts session is Monsieur Le Butch:

When Jude ends up unexpectedly living at home in their 30s, they must deal with a lovingly opinionated Jewish mother who doesn’t quite get the whole “trans thing.” Shot in the dog days of quarantine during a picturesque Vermont summer and featuring an original instrumental score, Monsieur Le Butch is a tender and authentic meta-comedy about the line between the stories we tell ourselves and the stories that get told about us.

Half

Screening in Sydney as part of the Bi+ Shorts session is Half:

Half-Jewish, bisexual Jonah Dorman comes out to his girlfriend, shaking the foundation of their relationship and launching a tragicomic exploration of love and religion in New York City.

All the Beauty and the Bloodshed

Screening in Sydney is feature film All the Beauty and the Bloodshed.

Note: The central character is Jewish, although this is not a focus of the film.

Fleeing a dysfunctional childhood, Goldin forged her career photographing her friends, family and LGBTIQ+ subcultures. After struggling with addiction, Goldin set her sights on the pharmaceutical titans responsible for the opioid crisis, leading an ACT UP inspired movement to challenge art institutions to refuse their donations. Featuring hundreds of Goldin’s photographs, All the Beauty and the Bloodshed weaves multiple narratives to create a bold and ultimately inspiring film as Goldin puts her career on the line to take down those who profit from pain.

Candidate statement: Simon Gnieslaw – Independent for Bentleigh

The following political statement has been supplied by Simon Gnieslaw who is running as a candidate for Bentleigh District in the 2022 Victorian State Government election.

Aleph Melbourne will endorse all political candidates who unconditionally support equal rights for LGBTIQ+ Jews and whose values align with ours.

Letter-to-ALEPH-Jewish-LGBTIQA-group

[PDF]

Candidate statement: Wesa Chau – Labor for Prahran

The following political statement has been supplied by Wesa Chau who is running as a candidate for Prahran District in the 2022 Victorian State Government election.

Aleph Melbourne will endorse all political candidates who unconditionally support equal rights for LGBTIQ+ Jews and whose values align with ours.

Dear Michael,

I refer you to our Victorian Labor Policy and Strategy document which clearly outlines both our beliefs and plan for our future in support of our LGBTIQ+ communities, with which I fully agree:

www.vic.gov.au/pride-our-future-victorias-lgbtiq-strategy-2022-32

Warm regards,
Wesa Chau

Candidate statement: Darren Natale – Labor for Malvern

The following political statement has been supplied by Darren Natale who is running as a candidate for Malvern District in the 2022 Victorian State Government election.

Aleph Melbourne will endorse all political candidates who unconditionally support equal rights for LGBTIQ+ Jews and whose values align with ours.

I believe everyone has the right to be who they are, and live life without fear of discrimination or vilification.

As a proud member of the queer community, it’s so important that any organisation I’m involved in – in the community, in business, or in politics – is inclusive to all.

Labor has taken great strides towards equality for LGBTQI+ identifying people in Victoria, introducing the Safe Schools program and banning ‘conversion therapy’.

Dan Andrews actively walks the talk, as powerfully symbolised in 2015, when he became the first Victorian Premier to march at the Midsumma Pride March.

But with the Liberals already talking about loosening discrimination law to fire or not hire LGBTQI+ staff, we can’t stop now.

I’m dedicated to continuing the fight for the safety, freedom and equality of all LGBTQI+ people in Victoria, and supporting great organisations like Aleph, who do amazing work to advocate for our voices to be heard.

Candidate statement: Faith Fuhrer – Animal Justice Party for Hawthorn

The following political statement has been supplied by Faith Fuhrer who is running as a candidate for Hawthorn District in the 2022 Victorian State Government election.

Aleph Melbourne will endorse all political candidates who unconditionally support equal rights for LGBTIQ+ Jews and whose values align with ours.

Dear Michael, 

Thank you for your email and the opportunity to submit my official stance on the LGBTQIA+ community. 

The core values of the Animal Justice Party are kindness, equality, rationality and non-violence. At the heart of this is the creation of safe spaces for all human and non-human animals. 

My personal values are unconditionally the same. I will support and prioritise the LGBTQIA+ youth voice if elected, and work to ensure that the incredible diversity of humankind is protected and celebrated (as well as that of animalkind!). I assert that more LGBTQIA+ safe spaces are needed throughout Victoria, including in the District of Hawthorn. 

Advocating for the LGBTQIA+ community is also a priority for our current MP, Andy Meddick. We do recognise that there’s more work to be done, and the Animal Justice Party asserts that: 

  • Gender and sexuality equality is a fundamental human right and that the health, safety and wellbeing of women, girls and gender-diverse people is paramount. 
  • Reforms are essential to address the causes of gender and sexuality inequality and to protect people against gender and sexuality-based violence. 
  • Women and gender-diverse people must be supported, encouraged and empowered to be present and/or prominent in all areas of society, including politics. 
  • Everyone must be supported in informed decision-making with respect to gender and sexual identity. 
  • There must be zero tolerance of sexism, homophobia, queerphobia, transphobia, misogyny and any type of violence (including gender and sexuality-based violence) and we must work toward gender and sexuality equality and respect in all areas of society. 
  • Gender-inclusive language should be used.

Sincerely, 
Faith Fuhrer
Hawthorn Candidate 
Animal Justice Party

Aleph Melbourne launches 2022 Victorian State Election Voters Guide for LGBTIQ+ Equality

MEDIA RELEASE
13 NOVEMBER 2022

ALEPH MELBOURNE LAUNCHES 2022 VICTORIAN STATE ELECTION VOTERS GUIDE FOR LGBTIQ+ EQUALITY

Aleph Melbourne is proud to announce its 2022 Victorian State Election Voters Guide for LGBTIQ+ Equality. 

The Voters Guide is designed to inform voters who want to select candidates who have comprehensively demonstrated or pledged support for LGBTIQA+ equality and inclusion.

This election the guide covers Victorian electoral districts (as per 2022 electoral boundaries) with 700 or more people with Jewish religious affiliation as at the 2021 census. The selected districts are Albert Park, Bentleigh, Brighton, Caulfield, Clarinda, Hawthorn, Malvern, Oakleigh and Prahran.

LINKS

KEY FEATURES

  • Individual candidate statements indicating commitment to LGBTIQ+ issues
  • Indicators advising whether a candidate is LGBTIQ+, an ally, or opposed to LGBTIQ+ equality
  • Indicators advising whether a candidate is Jewish, or is perceived to hold antisemitic views
  • Links to candidate/party platform/policies on LGBTIQ+ issues
  • Links to How To Vote cards (available from November 18)

We encourage voters to locate their voting district, review their candidates’ levels of support for LGBTIQ+ issues and vote in a manner that prioritises LGBTIQ+ equality.

HISTORY

This guide is the seventh in our series of election guides since 2013:

MEDIA CONTACT
Michael Barnett | 0417-595-541 | contact@aleph.org.au

ENDS