Everyone deserves to live, work and study with dignity and respect, but currently, Victorian laws still allow religious institutions to discriminate against people because they are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, a single parent, in a de-facto relationship, or even if they are pregnant.
In good news, the Victorian government has announced that it will amend the state’s Equal Opportunity Act this year to narrow these gaps in protection.
Parliament must come together to wind back the outdated carve-outs that allow faith-based institutions to discriminate against LGBTQ+ people and others, when working and studying in religious schools, or working in or seeking access to services made available by faith-based organisations to the public, such as homelessness services or community housing.
Why is this important?
All people should be treated equally wherever they work, study or access goods and services, regardless of who they are or who they love.
But Victorian laws currently allow faith-based organisations to refuse service to someone based on their sexual orientation or because they are transgender, and allow religious schools to dismiss or expel LGBTQ+ students, staff and teachers. People can also be discriminated against based on their marital or parental status.
The Victorian government has announced it will be changing these laws this year and we know the conservative Christian lobby will fight to have the proposal watered down. We must come together in our thousands to show our community supports the changes, and to ensure the strongest possible reform.
Will you sign our petition today?
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