Category: Australia

Jun 26
Hate Crime Inquiry Hears Of “Pure Hatred” In Attacks On Gay And Bi Men

A hate crime inquiry in Victoria has heard that international students from countries where homosexuality is criminalised have been targeted on gay dating apps before being assaulted, filmed and threatened with being outed. Police in Victoria, Australia, have identified 95 attacks on gay or bisexual men since June 2024. Chad Hughes, chief executive of Thorne […]

Jun 26
Australian Government Criticised For Rejecting UN LGBTQIA+ Rights Recommendations

Advocates have criticised the Australian Government for declining all of the United Nations’ recent recommendations aimed at improving LGBTQIA+ rights. In a media release, Equality Australia said it was “bitterly disappointed” by the Federal Government’s lack of action in response to recommendations offered during a UN human rights peer review of Australia. As part of […]

Jun 25
Grindr, Police And LGBTQIA+ Groups To Give Evidence In Victorian Hate Crime Inquiry

The Australian state of Victoria has begun its parliamentary inquiry into anti-LGBTQIA+ hate crimes, following a series of disturbing attacks targeting gay and bisexual men. Conducted by the Victorian Parliament Legislative Council Legal and Social Issues Committee, the inquiry was established in February after a push from the Victorian Greens. It follows attacks that have […]

Jun 22
Birth Certificate Reforms Mark Step Forward For Rainbow Families In South Australia

The South Australian Parliament has passed reforms aimed at improving how parental roles are recorded on birth certificates for Rainbow families. The Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration (Birth Certificates) Amendment Bill passed by 33 votes to 8, marking a significant shift in how non-birth parents can be recognised on official documents. Under the changes, non-birth […]

Jun 20
New Zealand-Born Rugby League Player Sent Off Over Alleged Homophobic Slur

New Zealand-born rugby league player Asu Kepaoa could be facing time on the sidelines after being sent off for an alleged homophobic slur during the Newcastle Knights’ New South Wales Cup win over the St George Illawarra Dragons on Friday night. Kepaoa was given his marching orders at the end of the first half of […]

Jun 19
Exclusive Interview: Joe Bird on Queer Aussie Horror, Leviticus

From Talk to Me to Leviticus, the rising Australian actor steps from breakout horror success into queer genre cinema’s next frontier There is a special kind of excitement that comes with watching a young performer find the role that proves exactly what they are capable of. For Australian actor Joe Bird, that moment began with […]

Jun 18
Australia’s One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson Uses National Press Club Speech To Attack Trans Australians

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has used her first formal address to the National Press Club to launch a broad attack on the rights and existence of trans people. Speaking in Canberra on 17 June, Hanson described the movement for trans equality as a “militant force” that must be “confronted”, and claimed Australia was being […]

Jun 16
LEVITICUS Blends Queer Romance, Dread and Supernatural Horror

Australian writer-director Adrian Chiarella makes his feature debut with LEVITICUS, a queer horror film that transforms first love into something terrifying, intimate and deeply personal. Produced by Causeway Films, in association with Arenamedia and Lazy Susan Films, the 86-minute feature follows teenage boys Naim and Ryan, whose unexpected connection draws dangerous attention from their small […]