Changing Rights & Freedoms of LGBTQ+ Australians
Category: Other
Updated: 27 May 2021
Just a school project
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Created byRiley Bell
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Events
1788- The British colonise Australia and
import their legal system,
including anti-homosexual laws such
as the 1533 Buggery Law, which
forbids anal sex and bestiality.
It is unknown how Indigenous nations
reacted to LGTBQ+ individuals.1901- Australia federates, with states and territories
adopting their own variations of Britain's anti-homosexual
laws.1949- Victoria downgrades anal sex from a crime
punishable by death to a crime punishable
by 20 years of imprisonment.1968 to 1971- Various gay rights groups form in states and territories across Australia,
such as the Homosexual Law Reform Society in Canberra and Society Five in Melbourne.
The formation of these groups is a significant turning point in the fight for gay rights,
gaining both public and political support. In addition to this, it gave LGTBQ+ citizens
a chance to speak out against the cruel laws set against them.1975- South Australia decriminalises male acts of homosexuality and the age of consent for
homosexuals and heterosexuals is equalised.
Other states and territories begin deporting homosexuals to South Australia, the first of whom
are a young gay couple from Victoria whose house was raided by police.1976- ACT decriminalises male acts of homosexuality.1978- First Gay and Lesbian Mardi
Gras Parade is held
in Sydney, which has since become a famous
celebration of LGBTQ+ people. The parade in
Sydney was the firstlarge event organised to
raise awareness for gay rights,
53 people are arrested by police.1980 to 1981- Victoria decriminalises male acts of homosexuality, a common age of consent is
set at 18.1982- New South Wales becomes the first state in Australia
to pass laws forbidding discrimination against homosexuals.
However, the state doesn't decriminalise male acts of homosexuality until two years later.
The law against discrimination was a vital step in recognising homophobia
and equalising the rights of homosexual and heterosexual people.1982 to 1990- NSW, NT and WA decriminalise male acts of homosexuality,
with the heterosexual ages of consent in NSW and NT being 16 and the
homosexual age of consent at 18. WA keeps 16 the heterosexual age,
however the homosexual age of consent is at 21. It becomes an offence
in WA to "promote or encourage" homosexual behaviour in any
primary or secondary school.1992- The Gay Panic Defence succeeds in downgrading a
murder to a manslaughter, there are 10 more cases like this
in NSW alone. The Keating Labor government removes ban
preventing homosexual individuals from serving in the
military.2004- Northern Territory equalises ages of consent to 16.
ACT legislates to allow same-sex couples to adopt and it abolishes the Gay Panic Defence.
Howard liberal government amends the Marriage Act to explicitly exclude same-sex
couples. The amendment of this act defined a clear opposition to gay rights in
parliament.2009- Rudd Labor government passes legislation to
remove discrimination against same-sex couples from
85 federal laws relating to tax, veterans affairs, social
security and health.2013- The Gillard Labor government passes legislation
making it unlawful to discriminate against lesbian,
gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people.
Religious schools and hospitals are exempt from
this legislation.2014- ACT allows transgender individuals to change
sex on their birth certificates.2016- Premier Daniel Andrews of Victoria formally apologises
for the state's previous anti-gay laws. NSW Police and state government apologise
for the arrests and beatings at the 1978 Gay and Lesbian
Mardi Gras Parade2017- Coalition government launches a postal survey
to legalise gay marriage in which 79.5% of
Australian voters participate. The results were 61.6% in
favour of the legislation and 34.8% against.
The survey was concluded on the 15th of November, but
gay marriage was not legalised until
9th of December 2017.1972- South Australian police
murder a gay law academic
by throwing him into the
Torrens river in Adelaide.
For a photo shoot, police
drag his body back into the
water and retrieve it again.
The academic's death led to
nationwide awareness of
gay discrimination and police
brutality, it is regarded as
the largest turning point
in the fight for equality.Periods
2005 to 2008- Victoria abolishes the Gay Panic Defence. The
Australian Defence Force extends equal benefits to same-sex
families. NT abolishes the Gay Panic Defence in 2006. The
Howard Liberal government announces plans to ban
same-sex adoption nationwide in 2007, however this did not
come into effect following Labor's election victory. WA
abolishes the Gay Panic Defence in 2008.2010 to 2013- NSW legislates to allow same-sex
couples to adopt. The Gillard Labor government
allows transgender people to mark their gender
as 'x' on passports and gives the ability to choose
gender without medical intervention in 2011.
Tasmania legislates to allow same-sex couples to
adopt in 2013. Transgender children no longer
require family court approval to access hormone
blockers.
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