This article was originally published by QNews. You can find the original article here.
The Victorian government has unveiled anti-vilification law reforms that will expand laws to protect LGBTQIA+ communities from hate speech.
In Victoria, there are existing legal protections against vilification on the basis of race and religion.
But the Justice Legislation Amendment (Anti-vilification and Social Cohesion) Bill, introduced on Tuesday, will expand the state’s hate speech laws to ban vilification based on disability, gender identity, sex, sex characteristics or sexual orientation.
Premier Jacinta Allan and Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes joined LGBTIQ+, disability and multicultural leaders on Tuesday to introduce the draft bill.
Equality Australia CEO Anna Brown said attacks on LGBTIQ+ people – especially the trans community – are increasing.
She said anti-vilification protections are about addressing hate speech before it escalates into acts of violence.
“LGBTIQ+ people are sadly among those Victorians who are vulnerable to vilification,” Anna Brown said.
“[We] are facing increased incidents of hate speech, threats and intimidation. Hate impacts on the safety and dignity of individuals and diminishes our community as a whole.
“People who target vulnerable minorities to incite hatred and fear need to be called out and stopped.
“We don’t want to see hate and extremism in public life, online spaces or on our streets.
“These laws will help protect all Victorians against hate and bigotry regardless of who they are, where they come from and what they believe.”
‘United against American-style division’
Premier Jacinta Allan said everyone in Victoria “deserves to be safe in our state, free of hate.”
“[The reforms will] help keep us united against that American-style division that is starting to creep more and more into our community, into our dialogue, into our society, by cracking down on those who try and whip up hatred,” she said.
She said it should “absolutely be against the law” to vilify someone for being a woman or for being in a wheelchair.
“These strong new laws support social cohesion by making it easier for police to charge anyone found to be inciting violence against specific groups or individuals,” she said.
On Tuesday, Victoria Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes addressed criticism of the reforms from some religious groups, including the Melbourne Catholic Archdiocese and the Australian Christian Lobby.
“The Bill protects genuine and legitimate religious activities, such as worshipping, practising, proselytising and teaching religion,” she said.
“Being able to proselytise what your religion stands for is unaffected by this bill. It can’t be used as a cloak for unabated abuse.”
For the latest LGBTIQA+ Sister Girl and Brother Boy news, entertainment, community stories in Australia, visit qnews.com.au. Check out our latest magazines or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
