QUEER COLLABORATIONS

FREEDOMS ARE WON, NOT GIVEN

Queer students from around Australia assembled in Melbourne during early July for the annual National Union of Students conference, Queer Collaborations. This included a twenty six teamed delegation from all four Western Australian public universities, with ten students coming from Murdoch.

The highly charged conference tackled the big current issues, historic battles and the hot topic Voluntary Student Unionism (VSU), which is killing Queer departments right around the country.

National Union of Students Queer Officer James Vigus says university queer departments are concerned with the delay and lack of help thus far in the bid to repeal VSU. "I think it's a tragedy with youth suicide so high and people arriving on campus for the first time - if you're young and queer, it used to be easier before these new laws came in [VSU] to access basically anything you wanted on campus to do with issues that concern young queer people."

Minister for Youth and Sport Kate Ellis has been forced to publicly recognise the unique damage VSU has over Queer departments stating "We've spoken with [student services] and the role of the queer or sexuality office is very important. I'm sure that it's a place a lot of people come out, and there needs to be support and a network for people. Universities need to be a welcoming place for people regardless of race, age or sexuality," said Ellis.

Julia Gillard’s office has come out and stated that Labour are looking at three models that will serve to turn around the effects of VSU, which was part of John Howard’s Union bashing agenda.

To further state the message loud and clear, conference delegates marched the streets of Melbourne into Federal MP Lindsay Tanner’s office, demanding three immediate actions by the Labour Government - lift the ban against same-sex marriage, repeal VSU and stop Queerphobia in the education system.

The march recognises the need for our community to mobalise and to force the Rudd Government to deliver equality now. Delegates were inspired by our historically activist past and now want to lead the wave of resistance to end Queerphobic legistration in Australia.

There has been a rally organized for the 9th August at Kings Square, Fremantle starting from 12noon. Guest speakers will address the protesters and then the action is to hit the streets of Fremantle. The day marks the anniversary of John Howard’s ban against same-sex marriage and the action is calling for the Rudd Labour Government to lift the marriage ban, repeal the 100+ laws that discriminate against same-sex couples and stop Queerphobia in the Education system.

Emma Kingdon