Today we added our voice to calls to reform laws that cause serious harm to transgender and intersex people. Let's put an end to state-sanction discrimination in NSW. 

NSW Greens spokesperson on Sexuality and Gender Diversity Jenny Leong joined the 'No More Delays! Marriage Equality NOW!' rally at Sydney's Town Hall on November 7th, alongside thousands of marriage equality supporters.

The Federal Coalition has been fiercely opposing equal marriage rights for over a decade. Their latest proposal for a national plebiscite is an insulting delaying tactic and a blatant refusal to act immediately on an issue that has the support of the majority of Australian.

The Greens have a long and proud history of working side by side with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) communities.

We believe that it’s wrong for any person to be stigmatised or discriminated against because of their sexual orientation, sex or gender identity. Diversity and the vibrancy it fosters should be recognised for the importance of its contribution to Australian society, culture and the economy.

The Greens will continue to work for true equality, for transgender and intersex rights, for an end to discrimination by religious organisations and for better support services for all LGBTIQ Australians.

The Greens are working to:

• celebrate the unique and valuable contribution of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer people, and acknowledge the diversity of their communities;
• protect people from discrimination and vilification, by eliminating all discriminatory laws and exemptions in the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act
• combat the serious problem of bullying in schools by improving anti-homophobia, anti-biphobia, anti-transphobia and anti-intersexphobia policies;
• support Safe Schools as well as better resources, training and peer support services that promote inclusiveness in curriculum at all levels of the education system;
• defend the rights of transgender and intersex people so that they don’t face discrimination, harassment or disadvantage;
• see a strong commitment from government to addressing the over-representation of mental illness and suicide amongst LGBTI people; and
• ensure funding for research and programs that address family and domestic violence in LGBTIQ communities and increase funding for rural and regional support services.

The Greens are proud to stand with the LGBTIQ community. If you'd like to get involved in our campaigns sign up here.

Media Release - 6 November 2015

The Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) is promoting a campaign against the Safe Schools Coalition program around Australia. Greens NSW Sexuality and Gender Diversity Spokesperson Jenny Leong says that the program is an essential service that provides support for vulnerable students and their families.

She says: “We are disappointed but not surprised to see yet another scare campaign by the ACL targeting an important service for the LGBTIQ community.”

“The Greens are proud supporters of the Safe Schools Program, and feel that ensuring our young people feel safe and included at school is key to their wellbeing.

Today we acknowledged the Community Honour Awards established by the AIDS Council of New South Wales. 

From time to time, we receive correspondence from people who disagree with our position on equality for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer (LGBTIQ) people in our community. We think it’s important to be clear: this will not change our view. We are proud of our long and strong history working to advance LGBTIQ rights and equality – and will continue to do this.

The Greens have always stood up for full equality for LGBTI people, and for a society that celebrates and encourages diversity, and we always will.

The Greens are the only party resolute in standing for marriage equality, no ifs and no buts. We don’t believe people’s human rights are a matter of conscience and Greens MPs will always vote for marriage equality - every MP, every vote, every time.

There is overwhelming community support for marriage equality from every demographic, including people of faith, people in regional and rural areas and older people, but the old parties still hold LGBTI Australians back from equality nationwide. Disappointingly, the same-sex marriage bill was defeated in NSW parliament in 2013 by essentially one vote. The Greens will keep pushing for full marriage equality at both the state and federal level.

We are committed to standing up for genuine equality laws, to stop religious schools, hospitals and homeless shelters from turning LGBTI Australians away or firing them because of their sexuality or gender identity.

And we want to ensure that young people are safe – and don’t suffer from discrimination or harassment as a result of their gender, sexuality or gender identity.

We will keep working hard to implement policies, programs and legislative changes that will end discrimination, achieve full equality for LGBTI people and support their health and social needs.

You can read our full NSW policy here and our national policy here.

Media Release – 10 September 2015

Yesterday the Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence, Pru Goward, announced that ACON will receive funding for research and education into domestic and family violence in the LGBTIQ community.

Recognising the invaluable contribution that the organisers and participants of Wear it Purple Day, the Safe Schools Coalition and the makers of the Gayby Baby documentary. 

Media Release: 26 August 2015: Greens slam Piccoli’s ‘Gayby Baby’ ban

The Greens NSW response to sensationalised coverage in the Daily Telegraph regarding the documentary ‘Gayby Baby’, and NSW Minister for Education Adrian Piccoli’s kneejerk reaction.

Greens NSW spokesperson on Sexuality and Gender Identity, Member for Newtown Jenny Leong said:

"Gayby Baby is an important and wonderful film telling the stories of a number of families in NSW from the children’s perspective.

An Open Letter on transphobia, violence against transgender people and discrimination in our laws

From Jenny Leong MP with a contribution from Anna

Dear friend,

I am writing because I want you to know that any form of transphobia, violence against transgender people or discrimination against the transgender community in our laws disgusts and angers me. It is unacceptable and something that I am committed to working with you to eliminate.

While the tragic issue of transphobia and violence faced by transgender people, particularly transgender women, in our community is not new – it has been getting a lot more media coverage of late.

I felt the seriousness of this situation would not be helped by me politicising the issue in the media. As such, I purposely chose to not put out public statements nor insert myself into the centre of specific incidents as I didn’t – and still don’t - want this to become all about me. Nor do I feel comfortable making comments about specific incidents without having the consent of those involved.

I now realise that it’s possible that this approach has meant that some in the community feel that I am ignoring the situation or not taking it seriously – and to those people who have felt that way I am sorry. I wish to reassure you that I am taking it seriously – and that I and the Greens stand with you in your struggle for equal treatment under the law and the ability to live in the community free from violence.

That said, I still don’t think it should be me at the centre of this, so I wanted to use my position to share with you some thoughts from Anna – an young woman and activist who I spoke to earlier today and provided me with the advice and guidance that resulted in this letter.

For me Transphobia and transmisogyny are everyday parts of my life, but this shouldn’t be so. The only way for the community to move beyond attacking, harassing and abusing transgender people is if the discriminatory laws against transgender people are removed, if Parliament took us and our well being seriously, if we were given platforms like this one that Jenny has given me so that we may speak, have our voices heard and hopefully that will help combat transphobic violence and transmisogyny.

I have been the victim of transphobic hate, and transmisogyny from members of the public and the police, I’ve been threatened, called all sorts of horrible things, I’ve been spat at, I’ve been given move on orders when I’ve tried to use the toilet that aligns with my gender.

Transphobia isn’t just happening in Newtown which has usually been a safe haven for people like me, it happens on the trains, in toilets, on buses, in shops, in pubs, in parks and many other places.  The only way that we can change this is by engaging the public, by campaigning, by having MPs by our side and fighting for legal equality in Parliament and most of all by saying enough, this cannot go on any more.

It is for these reasons that we must continue to work towards equality and an end to discrimination in our laws – because it has a real impact, a dangerous and threatening impact on people’s lives.

On a more personal and specific note, I want to let you know that I have been in contact with Stephanie McCarthy who was violently attacked at the Town Hall Hotel in Newtown and suffered increased injustice and violence at the court hearing of her attackers yesterday. Stephanie gave me permission to mention that we had spoken and were in touch in this letter. For the record, let me make it clear that it is unacceptable that Stephanie was attacked in the way that she was – and it is even more outrageous that she suffered further abuse during the court hearing yesterday. I am so sorry at the violence and injustice that Stephanie has suffered and have offered to do whatever we can to assist her.

Finally, let me say that this is the phone number of our office 9517 2800 – and our email is [email protected]. If you have concerns that you wish to raise with me – or issues that we can assist with – or frustrations about what we are doing please don’t ever hesitate to get in touch.

Being a Member of Parliament is something that I am new to – so I encourage you to provide me with feedback and input on ensuring I do it in a way that meets your needs and expectations.

In return, I can commit to you that I will strive to be open and honest in my dealings with you, always willing to apologise and will listen to your advice if you think I could do things another way – and above all to work tirelessly every day to end discrimination and injustice.

Thank you to Anna, Stephanie, Teddy and the others in the community for talking with me and being a part of shaping this response.

Yours sincerely,

Jenny Leong MP

Member for Newtown

NSW Greens Sexuality and Gender Spokesperson