Marriage and Family at risk

Circular by Pastor Philip Hills (Phone: 03.9478 4316)

A new bill which is expected to be introduced into Parliament in the near future will have grave implications for the institutions of marriage and family, for religious groups, for small business - indeed for all Australian society. The Sexual Discrimination Bill (SDB) will grant special rights to homosexuals and lesbians while taking away rights from most other Australians. The SDB has been around for several years now. Public hearings concerning the bill took place in 1996 and now the Senate Committee in charge of the bill has just released a 300 page report with 32 recommendations.

The recommendations are even worse than those in the original version of the bill. Here are some major areas of concern:

• The granting of special rights to homosexuals will take away rights from the rest of the community. For example, under the SDB, church groups, small business, clubs, incorporated bodies and families will have no option but to rent to homosexuals, employ homosexuals, and tolerate cross-dressing and other activities in the workplace, even if this contrary to their beliefs.
• This bill, which urges full legal recognition of homosexual partnerships, will pave the way for same-sex marriage and adoption rights for homosexuals. Their final goal, of societal acceptance and affirmation of the homosexual lifestyle will be close to being reached.
• Religious bodies may have to employ homosexuals, or to prove why they should be exempt from such obligations.
• If a homosexual accuses an individual or group of ridicule, harassment or vilification, the burden of proof will be on the accused to show that they have not done such activities.
• Any group receiving government funding will not be allowed exemptions to the provisions of this bill.
• This bill could override many States’ rights and invalidate much State and Commonwealth legislation and put Australia further at the mercy of the United Nations and other international bodies or treaties.
• Religious bodies may find their ability to proclaim scriptural truth on issues of family and sexuality severely curtailed by many provision of this Bill.

It is imperative that this Bill is not allowed to pass. Focus on the Family is actively working towards this end. But every one of our members will need to get involved to see this Bill stopped. Here is what can be done:

We have two research papers available which spell out clearly the nature of the threat. The first is a four page paper entitled “Caution needed on Sexuality Discrimination Legislation”, which outlines the features of the Bill and the dangers it poses. The second is an eighteen page paper, “The challenge of Homosexuality”. This paper covers all the information you need to know: how many queers are there? health risks of homosexuality; promiscuity rates; risks to children; is homosexuality genetic? etc... Both papers are available for Au$1 each.

If you have the time and inclination, get a copy of the report and read it for yourself. Entitled “Inquiry into Sexual Discrimination” the report is available from The Senate Legal and Constitutional References Committee, The Senate, Parliament House, Canberra, ACT, 2600. Telephone: (02) 6277 3560; Fax: (02) 6277 5794

Write, visit or call your local member, urging him or her to oppose this legislation.

Notify friends, families, churches, community groups and others about this legislation.

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