Public Lecture – Newcastle 26 Sept. 2019
PUBLIC LECTURE "POST EQUALITY VICTORY: THE CHALLENGES AHEAD" Speaker ANTHONY VENN-BROWN THURSDAY 26 SEPTEMBER 6PM WATT SPACE GALLERY Newcastle NSW
Did God give the No Campaign a gift? (welcome to our world)
I know from personal experience that sometimes in life, gifts come in unexpected ways and unattractive packages. I wrote about this in my autobiography A Life of Unlearning concerning my first gay relationship. It was an unhealthy, co-dependent, physically and emotionally abusive relationship. But I had an experience which changed my perspective. I shared it [...]
The No Campaign: Scaremongering 10/10 – Originality 0/10
Fear is a powerful force. Ask any gay or lesbian person. Fear kept many of us locked in closets for years. Marketers know how powerful fear is as a motivator that can sell virtually anything including tires, insurance, even breakfast cereal and deodorant. We purchase things that previously were considered unnecessary: antibacterial soap, alarm systems, [...]
The Marriage Equality Postal Survey is…..
The Marriage Equality Postal Survey DOES NOT challenge 'traditional marriage'. What is 'traditional marriage?' Marriage has evolved many times over thousands of years and I'm sure even the conservatives are grateful it has. 'Biblical marriage' over millennium, women married their rapists or the men who enslaved them. Multiple wives (polygamy) was standard. 'Traditionally' as well [...]
Your marriage equality survival guide during the ‘debate’ (from a survivor)
For many LGBTI Australians, tolerance has been the least they have experienced. Most though, have acceptance with their family, friends as well as workplace settings. Australia’s corporates and multi-nationals champion and celebrate diversity whilst homophobia is being stamped out in sport. We have a generation who essentially knew nothing of the horrors of imprisonment, institutionalisation, [...]
Survivor Tips – Your Postal Survey Survivor Guide (from a survivor)
Survivor Tips (from a survivor) It has just been announced that Australia's marriage equality postal survey is going ahead. For many LGBTI Australians, tolerance has been the least they have experienced. Most though, have acceptance with their family, friends as well as workplace settings. Australia’s corporates and multi-nationals actually champion and celebrate diversity. Homophobia is [...]
An open letter to Australia’s pastors and church leaders
As a regular preacher in churches across Australia I was once considered a leader within the Pentecostal, Charismatic and Evangelical worlds. Many of you were my peers, some sat under my ministry, I taught some of you in Bible college, some were my friends and thankfully some still are. And for years now I have [...]
It’s really about the love
When Mel White, founder of Soulforce was on Larry King Live, a caller asked what Mel and his partner did in bed. Larry King hung up on the caller for being rude, but Mel White answered anyway. “What do we do in bed? We’ve been together for 24 years—we sleep.” Larry replied. “Yes when these [...]
Hop, hop, stall, stop. Love wins – in the end
Australia’s journey to marriage equality has been like someone learning to drive a car with a clutch (some of you will remember those days before automatic cars). Hop, hop, stall, stop. Hop, hop, stall, stop. Hop, hop, stall, stop. If you’re from overseas and you don’t understand the complexities or our hold ups, then I’m [...]