Tag: Hawthorn

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 2022 Voters Guide for LGBTIQ+ Equality – Victorian State Election

ALEPH MELBOURNEVOTERS GUIDE TO LGBTIQ+ EQUALITYVICTORIAN STATE ELECTION 2022#ALBERT PARK #BENTLEIGH #BRIGHTON #CAULFIELD #CLARINDA #HAWTHORN #MALVERN #OAKLEIGH #PRAHRAN

This guide is designed to inform voters who want to select candidates who have comprehensively demonstrated or pledged support for LGBTIQ+ 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.

What to look for in candidates that PRIORITISE LGBTIQ+ equality:
* A candidate statement
* [BEST] A comprehensive LGBTIQ+ policy platform and/or unequivocal commitment to LGBTIQ+ issues (green tick)
* [OK] A policy platform that shows some level of support to LGBTIQ+ issues (yellow tick)
* Are declared as an ally or LGBTIQ+

What to look for in candidates that OPPOSE LGBTIQ+ equality:
* A warning symbol against their name in the LGBTIQ+ column
* A policy platform that is inconsistent with LGBTIQ+ equality (red cross)

What if a candidate has not declared themselves as an ally and/or does not have an LGBTIQ+ policy platform?
We recommend you contact the candidate or their party and ask them directly.  They have not responded to our emails.

Feedback, corrections and updates are invited via our contact page. Information is provided here in good faith and on the understanding that it is correct.

Candidate statement: Melissa Lowe – Independent for Hawthorn

The following political statement has been supplied by Melissa Lowe 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.

As the former Manager of Student Equity at Swinburne University, I’ve seen firsthand the economic, social and health consequences of discrimination.

Discrimination damages mental health and denies people the economic and social opportunities to fulfill their full potential. It forces good people to live in hiding – simply due to who they are, or who they love.

I am aghast at the proposal by the Liberal Party to amend the Equal Opportunity Act to re-legalise discrimination against people on grounds of gender or sexuality. It’s time that we see the end of division and discrimination as an election strategy.

Candidate statement: Nick Savage – Greens candidate for Hawthorn

Nick Savage

The following political statement has been supplied by Nick Savage 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.

As a Greens candidate, I’m proud to stand up for LGBTIQA+ community members. Although the rights and representation of this community have expanded greatly over the last few decades there are still those in power who wish to see these rights repealed, exemplified by Matthew Guy’s discrimination Bill. The Greens and I are committed to fighting against this prejudice in any form it may take.  

Specifically, for the Victorian State election, we will submit an ‘Equality Bill’ to parliament that will strengthen the Equal Opportunity Act to prevent all faith-based schools and organisations from discriminating against LGBTIQA+ students, staff and services users; give the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission stronger powers, including stronger investigatory powers and enforceable determinations; expand anti-vilification laws to protect LGBTIQA+ people and support victims of hate crimes, including by making vilification and public harassment a crime and legislating to make violence motivated by hate a specific criminal offence; ban deferrable medical interventions on children with intersex characteristics and restrict all sex characteristic altering medical treatment on intersex people without personal consent or oversight from an independent expert panel; and protect the important work of the LGBTIQ+ Communities Commissioner and the LGBTIQ+ Taskforce by enshrining them in legislation. 

In addition to this, however, the Greens will also establish a $200 million ‘Rainbow State Fund’ that will help fund community controlled LGBTIQA+ services in key areas of need such as mental health, multicultural and youth services, homelessness and sexual health, and much, much more. As I don’t wish to overload you with too much information, please check out the link below if you’d like to know more about our election platform. 

Nevertheless, I apologise for the block of information I’ve already presented here, but I recognise that we still have a long way to go in supporting LGBTIQA+ communities, and the Greens are committed to building upon the progress that we’ve already made. Everyone should feel safe from discrimination and be able to access support and services that meet their needs. With more Greens in Parliament, we’ll push for comprehensive changes to make this a reality.   

Here is a link to our LGBTIQA+ election platform: greens.org.au/vic/rainbowstateplan