LGBTIQA+ Jewish group call for broader protections in proposed anti-hate bill
Attacks on LGBTIQA+ Community Parallel Antisemitic Attacks
An Australian Jewish LGBTIQA+ group wants the Federal Government to prohibit hate speech against LGBTIQA+ people as well as the Jewish community.
Aleph Melbourne spokesperson, Michael Barnett, said
“It makes no sense to us that half our identity is protected from hate and the other half isn’t.”
“The same ideology is being used to drive attacks on both the LGBTIQA+ and Jewish communities. Neo-Nazis and white supremacists want to eradicate gay and trans people as much as they want to eradicate Jews.”
“This is one reason why the Executive Council of Australian Jewry has in recent years backed greater protections for LGBTIQA+ people.”
“We call on the government to treat anti-LGBTIQA+ hate as seriously as antisemitic hate. There is no room for either in Australia.”
The Government today released a bill responding to the Bondi tragedy by prohibiting vilification and hate-motivated crime on the basis of race, but no other attributes.
Spokesperson for Just.Equal Australia, Rodney Croome, said,
“Passing laws against only one kind of hate means other forms are seen as legitimate and less deserving of a response.”
“One important lesson from the Bondi tragedy is that the Government shouldn’t wait until attacks escalate before taking tough action against hate.”
“National hate speech and hate crime laws should cover LGBTIQA+ people as well as all other Australians vulnerable to hate.”
“The Prime Minister has said ‘more could have been done’ to prevent the Bondi attack, so let’s now do more, not less.”
There has been an alarming increase in the number of anti-LGBTIQA+ attacks in recent years, often overlapping with antisemitism:
The Voters Guide is designed to inform voters in Melbourne’s predominantly Jewish suburbs who want to select candidates who have comprehensively demonstrated or pledged support for LGBTIQA+ equality and inclusion.
This election the guide covers Victorian electoral divisions (as per October 2024 electoral boundaries) with 1000 or more people with Jewish religious affiliation as at the 2021 census. The selected divisions are Chisholm*, Goldstein, Hotham, Isaacs, Kooyong, Macnamara and Melbourne*.
* Included due to the abolition and redistribution of the division of Higgins.
Individual candidate statements indicating commitment to LGBTIQA+ issues
Indicators advising whether a candidate is LGBTIQA+, an ally, or opposed to LGBTIQA+ equality
Indicators advising whether a candidate is Jewish, or is perceived to hold antisemitic views
Links to candidate/party platform/policies on LGBTIQA+ issues
Links to How To Vote cards
We encourage voters to locate their voting district, review their candidates’ levels of support for LGBTIQA+ issues and vote in a manner that prioritises LGBTIQA+ equality.
The guide will be continually updated as more candidate information comes in, or as developments on candidates arise.
HISTORY
This guide is the eighth in our series of election guides since 2013:
The Fusion Party candidate for Aston, Owen Miller, today issued the following statement:
“I’m proud to support the Victorian Jewish community. Jews have consistently been at the forefront of a number of important causes including humane treatment of asylum seekers, equal rights for LGBTIQA+ people, climate action and constitutional recognition of First Nations peoples.”
Mr Miller continued:
“Together we’ve won some of those causes, but there is more work to do. I hope I can continue working alongside the Victorian Jewish community to do it, particularly in progressing equal rights for my own LGBTIQA+ community.”
If elected to parliament, Owen will advocate for:
A 10-year transition to negative emissions
Establishing a First Nations Voice and Treaty
Measures to reduce discrimination using rehabilitative justice
Age-appropriate education on sex, gender and healthy relationships
Ending all remaining discrimination related to domestic partnerships on the basis of gender or sexual identity Separation of church and state for the protection of all religions, as well as protection from religion
Jewish LGBTIQA+ advocacy body Aleph Melbourne has called on Victorians to support a number of these measures. Aleph co-convenor Michael Barnett OAM had the following to say:
“Aleph Melbourne supports the elimination of all discrimination impacting LGBTIQA+ people.
We believe more education is required to address misconceptions about gender identity, sexual orientation and related topics. Sadly many people in society form harmful views around these issues which ultimately impact the self-esteem and mental health of young people.
Whilst Aleph Melbourne opposes discrimination on the basis of religion we are opposed to religious values discriminating against people on the grounds of innate characteristics.
Aleph Melbourne supports all candidates who stand up for the rights of LGBTIQA+ people. We stand behind Owen Miller, as candidate with a Queer identity, who upholds the same values we stand for.”
Anyone wishing to support Owen Miller this election can sign up to donate or volunteer.
Contact
Owen Miller Fusion Party candidate for Aston owen.miller@fusionparty.org.au Mobile on request
Michael Barnett OAM Co-convenor, Aleph Melbourne michael@aleph.org.au Mobile on request
Andrea Leong National Secretary, Fusion Party andrea.leong@fusionparty.org.au Mobile 0490134827
JEWISH COMMUNITY COUNCIL OF VICTORIA MEDIA STATEMENT
“The actions of Nazi thugs over the weekend has shocked the entire Victorian community, not just Jews. We are pleased to see the Victorian Government move to ban the Nazi salute, most likely with bipartisan support. It is an odious symbol of hate.
It should not be lost in the debate that, on this occasion, the proximate target of this hateful conduct was transgender people.
“The JCCV thinks that there needs to be a broader discussion about vilification of all minorities, and criminalisation of such behaviour. We look forward to participating in that discussion with Government in the near future.”
To download this statement in PDF format, please click here.
The Executive Council of Australian Jewry (the ECAJ), the peak representative body of the Australian Jewish community, has condemned yesterday’s demonstration in Melbourne’s CBD by a group of neo-Nazis as “disgraceful”, and called for tougher action by State, Territory and Federal governments against public displays of Nazi symbols and gestures.
“Neo-Nazis remain denizens of the far fringes of society, but a weak response by government has emboldened them”, said ECAJ co-CEO Peter Wertheim. “They are becoming increasingly brazen in staging displays of the kind we witnessed yesterday outside the Victorian parliament”.
“Thugs in black uniform, hiding behind masks, performing Nazi salutes and spewing violent and dehumanising rhetoric against entire groups of people on the basis of their race, sexuality or gender identity, should have no place anywhere in Australia, let alone outside a parliament, the symbol of democracy”, he said.
Peter Wertheim also noted media reports of attempts by neo-Nazis to join the Australian defence force and state police forces in order to gain access to weapons and training.
“We welcome the Victorian government’s announcement that it will ban the Nazi salute in public, after it previously outlawed the display of the Hakenkreuz. But we need something more than a piecemeal approach, and a patchwork of State laws. It’s well past time for Federal, State and Territory governments to co-ordinate their efforts through intelligence sharing, tough uniform legislation, and rigorous police training and enforcement to crack down on this growing menace.”
19 March 2023 – A diverse group of trans, LGBTIQ+, multicultural, women’s and other civil society organisations have joined together to condemn the hate speech and transphobic displays that took place outside Victorian parliament.
The coalition said it highlighted the urgent need for Victoria and other jurisdictions to expand their anti-vilification laws to prohibit all forms of hate speech, including vilification based on gender identity or sexual orientation.
There are currently no federal laws and no laws in Victoria, South Australia or Western Australia protecting LGBTIQ+ people from vilification. Only vilification based on race (and in Victoria, also based on religion) is prohibited in these places.
Son Vivienne and Jeremy Wiggins, CEO’s of Transgender Victoria and Transcend said: “Surely, we can agree that whatever our personal or political beliefs, we share a human desire for mutual respect?
“Anti-vilification laws are one way to protect humanity against violence, hate and bigoted ideologies that hurt all people, but especially those at the intersections of stigmatised gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, faith, class and disability.
“Transgender Victoria and Transcend believe in standing for common decency and compassion and we call upon state and federal governments to strengthen legal protections against hate.”
Jackie Turner, Founderof the Trans Justice Project said: ”Trans people deserve to thrive. Yet right now we are facing unprecedented attacks on our rights, lives and health care from anti-trans hate groups. I encourage everyone to stand in solidarity with the trans and gender diverse community in calling out these attacks.”
Anna Brown, CEO of Equality Australia said: “The actions of the anti-trans protesters in Victoria yesterday speak for themselves and we condemn them in the strongest possible terms. Clearly there is no place for Nazi salutes and signs calling for the destruction of trans people in Australian public debate.
“The neo-Nazi ideology and that of the anti-trans protesters have much in common – they target vulnerable minorities to incite hatred and fear. These ugly displays of transphobia are typical of the sort of vilification trans people have to deal with every day and now the broader Australian public can see for themselves the sort of people doing it.”
Mohammad Al-Khafaji, CEO of the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) said: “With International Day on the Elimination of Racism on Tuesday, we can’t stand by and let the symbols of racist ideology be used to demean the dignity of any person in our wonderfully multicultural society, whatever their race, religion, gender identity or sexuality.”
Daniel Aghion KC,President of the Jewish Community Council of Victoria (JCCV) said: “Vilification, in any form, has no place in Victoria.”
Jana Favero, Director of Systemic Change, Asylum Seeker Resource Centre said: “It was shocking to see footage of yesterday’s anti trans neo nazi displays. We condemn this display of racism, hatred, and fear mongering. Such discrimination and division does not reflect us as a community and must be rejected and condemned.”
Michael Barnett, Aleph Melbourne said: “White supremacy of this nature lead to the persecution and murder of millions of Jews, LGBTIQ+ people and other minorities in World War 2. There is no room for this ugly behaviour in Melbourne, or anywhere else. Transgender, gender diverse and all LGBTIQ+ people have a right to live in peace and safety, without fear of bigotry, transphobia or intolerance.
Renee Carr, Executive Director of Fair Agenda said: “The fight for women’s rights is one for respect and dignity. We condemn the actions of all who target and marginalise people in our community to incite hatred and fear. All women must join together to ensure our movement is not co-opted to demonise the trans women among us. A better future for women is one where we all have safety, security and agency over our lives and bodies.”
In 2021, a cross-party Victorian Parliamentary committee recommended expanding Victoria’s racial and religious vilification laws to protect everyone from hate, including transgender people. These recommendations are yet to be implemented.
In the lead up to the federal election in 2022, the Commonwealth government committed to enacting religious anti-vilification laws but has not committed to prohibiting vilification based on other attributes.
Ms Brown said reforms to protect LGBTIQ+ people from the harms of hate speech were long overdue.
“In 2023, it cannot be that Nazi salutes vilifying trans people are legal in Victoria, or anywhere in Australia. Everyone deserves to live without people condemning their simple right to exist, or live with dignity,” concluded Ms Brown.
Media contact: Anna Brown 0422 235 522, Tara Ravens 0408 898 154
MEDIA RELEASE FEBRUARY 16 2023 Aleph Melbourne Co-Convenor Colin Krycer awarded “Volunteer of the Year” at Victorian Pride Awards 2022
Aleph Melbourne congratulates co-convenor Colin Krycer for being awarded “Volunteer of the Year” at GLOBE Victoria’s “Victorian Pride Awards 2022” held in February 2023.
WINNER – Colin Krycer (he/him) has been volunteering within the LGBTIQA+ community for over three decades. A longstanding volunteer of Thorne Harbour Health since 1987, Colin has given willingly of his time to assist many LGBTIQA+ organisations including the Pride Foundation, ALEPH, Melbourne Rainbow Band, Melbourne Gay and Lesbian Chorus, JOY, ALSO Foundation, Positive Attitude, the Melbourne AIDS Memorial Candlelight Vigil and Quilt Project Inc, to name but a few.
Colin has been volunteering with Melbourne’s LGBTIQ+ community for over 35 years, much of this with the Victorian AIDS Council / Thorne Harbour Health.
Aleph Melbourne has been privileged to have Colin’s involvement over many years. He has been an invaluable member and organiser, volunteering countless hours of his time to support LGBTIQ+ people in Melbourne’s Jewish community.
Amongst Colin’s involvement with Aleph Melbourne is hosting community Shabbat dinners, Jewish movie events, and hamishe afternoon teas at his house.
Since 2018 Colin has helped make the Jews of Pride contingent at Pride March a massive success with his sound system and event management talents, making the Jewish community contingent one of the event’s highlights.
Colin’s passion as a volunteer knows no bounds, giving his time and efforts generously and willingly.
The Jewish community, the LGBTIQ+ community and the HIV/AIDS community are richer and better off for Colin’s volunteerism and huge heart.
Aleph Melbourne sends a hearty Mazal Tov to Colin Krycer.
MEDIA RESOURCES
Contact: Michael Barnett | 0417 595 541 | michael@aleph.org.au
Photograph
(L to R): Daniel Bryen (Thorne Harbour Health), Colin Krycer (Aleph Melbourne), Michael Barnett (Aleph Melbourne) / Credit: Aleph Melbourne
VIDEO
Colin Krycer being awarded “Volunteer of the Year” (courtesy of LanceTV).
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.
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.
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:
