Protecting LGB Victorians from vilification

LGB Alliance Australia made a submission in response to the Victorian Government's proposal to amend the state's anti-vilification legislation. 

We are deeply aware of how vilification affects our community, and we can see potential benefits to extending legal protections. 

However, we are concerned about what this legislative change might mean in practice. We contend that the reforms would be undermined by the Equal Opportunity Act's failure to define sex, sexual orientation and gender identity clearly and accurately. Furthermore, we hold concerns that this proposed legislation will be utilised to vilify, intimidate and silence LGB people (especially women) who insist upon our sex-based rights. 

It is a grim irony that anti-vilification laws which purport to improve protections for LGB people could very plausibly be used to marginalise us further.

You can read our submission here.