No To Violence incorporating the Men’s Referral Service (NTV/MRS) supports the LGBTIQ community to have and enjoy the same freedoms as the rest of the Australian community. To enjoy safe, open and loving relationships with the choice to marry their partner.
In the lead up to what we see as a costly and discriminatory opinion poll, we express both our opposition to have to participate in this process, while simultaneously expressing our complete affirmation for the legalisation of marriage equality. In support of the LGBTIQ community, NTV/MRS implores all Australians to ensure they’re correctly enrolled to vote by August 24, 2017.
No matter how fed up you are with this crude evaluation of same-gender couples, your participation in the upcoming postal survey will help deliver a resounding message of hope, trust and acceptance. A message that Australians say YES to us and our rights to be who we are and love who we want.
NTV/MRS acknowledges that the longer the marriage equality debate continues and the more intense it grows, LGBTIQ people may experience greater threats to their health, wellbeing and relationships. On top of this exclusion to marry, people in LGBTIQ relationships already experience higher levels of violence, harassment and discrimination. Consequently, LGBTIQ people experience poorer mental and physical health and wellbeing than non-LGBTIQ Australians.
We implore the Federal Government to act quickly and decisively on marriage equality to reassure LGBTIQ Australians they are safe, welcome and accepted.
To all LGBTIQ community members: we hear you, we see you and we support your right to celebrate who you love, however you choose. We want to amplify LGBTIQ voices and we welcome ideas about how we can do this.
If you or someone you know is feeling particularly distressed during the marriage equality debate, the following LGBTIQ specific services are here for support:
Switchboard (Qlife) 1800 184 527
queerspace, drummond street services 03 9663 6733
Victorian AIDS Council (03) 9865 6700
Mind Equality Centre 1300 054 284
headspace (03) 9027 0100
Rainbow Network (03) 9479 8870
Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800
Black Rainbow (08) 9228 0354
Lifeline 13 11 14
Black Dog Institute (02) 9382 2991
Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467
ACON has created this colourful tip sheet to help you stay strong during the marriage equality debate. Share it with your friends!
