This article orginally was published Jan 27, 2009 but I have just updated it with a relevant video at the end. Everyone has an opinion about a Pride March such as the annual Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras; often very strong opinions. Predictably, conservative Christians condemn it. Rev Fred Nile, leader of the Christian [...]
After the recent mainstream media reports on ex-gay ministries in Australia and also the impact of The Cure documentary, I felt it was time to reach out once again to a person from ex-gay camp suggesting that we might meet up and engage in dialogue. My email was passed on to the Director of the ministry. Below is [...]
Read about the success of this campaign here and here Tweet: 1 Apr 2011 :gayambassador Anthony Venn-Brown "message from Aussie #exgaysurvivors to all USA 'ex-gays' thinking of coming to Australia to speak. "Don't bother" ACTION DETAILS BELOW An American ex-gay preacher, invited to speak in some Australian churches (Miracle Christian Center’s), is learning his message, [...]
Dear Peter How big is that hole you are digging for yourself at the Christian Democratic Party headquarters? Your YouTube video “Heal Our Land - Stand for Righteousness”, calling for a shutdown of Mardi Gras ‘anarchy’, as you call it, has caused quite a stir. I am sure you were unaware of the backlash this [...]
It’s always good to sit down and evaluate what has been achieved over the year to ensure that you are on track. 2010 has been another full-on year and looking back certain themes have emerged, and I have become even more aware of how extensive and important this work has become. I hope that you [...]
WHEN THE INVISIBLE BECOMES VISIBLE Recently, gay youth suicide reached the media landscape in an unprecedented way. Initially one suicide made headlines as a result of bullying then another then another till five names were regularly repeated. Within several weeks it had been reported that Seth Walsh, 13, hanged himself in his backyard. Asher Brown, [...]
The annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade is always colourful, outrageous and political but it is also often peppered with touching stories of courage and coming out. For the first time this year’s parade will include a group who call themselves ‘ex-gay survivors’. ‘Ex-gay’ survivors are people, who once believed their homosexuality was [...]
n 2009, Freedom 2 b[e] marched in the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras for the 3rd time. Freedom 2 b[e] is a non-profit organisation which provides support and information for GLBT people from church backgrounds. Based in Australia, with meetings held in Sydney and Melbourne. There is also a growing international online community. The [...]
In 2004, the Australian Federal Government (the only country in the world to do this) passed a bill banning the recognition of same sex marriages, therefore enshrining discrimation as a law. At the National Day of Action Freedon 2 b(e) showed our support, along with other gay community groups for the repeal of the ban [...]