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Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Gay Marriage - Tasmania Passed








The Tasmanian House of Assembly is the first state in Australia to pass an amendment to the Marriage Act, allowing marriage equality for gays and lesbians.

The Greens' motion now calls on the Federal Government to change the Marriage Act.

The passage of the motion was greeted with applause from Labor and Green members on the floor of the House and a standing ovation by same-sex marriage activists in the public gallery.

Liberal members voted against the motion.

The debate was watched by a large national audience on the Parliament's internet broadcast.

Greens leader Nick McKim said the motion provided hope.

"By voting in support of marriage equality, Tasmania has written itself into this country's history books, as a national leader in advocating a compassionate and progressive society," he said. "It is now time for the Federal Government to act to remove legally entrenched discrimination."

Mr McKim said that if the Federal Government did not reform marriage laws by the end of the year, he would push on with plans for state legislation.

Premier Lara Giddings said the vote was a great day for the state.

"Tasmania has come a long way since 1997 when we rectified the terrible situation of having homosexual relationships considered illegal in this state," she said. "We've come a long way to show we are in fact a tolerant and compassionate community."

Australian Marriage Equality national convener Alex Greenwich said people nationwide followed the debate.

"What they heard today was a message of hope. They heard a message of hope coming out of the Tasmanian Parliament that one day gay and lesbian Australians will be treated equally by the law and by the Marriage Act," he said. "This gives us the momentum and the encouragement to go on and keep fighting."

Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesman Rodney Croome said: "If every state and territory parliament were to do what we have seen in Tasmania today, it would be impossible for the Federal Parliament to continue to resist change. If Tasmania can do this, other states and territories can do it too."

Catholic Archbishop of Hobart Adrian Doyle expressed disappointment: "Our position on maintaining the current meaning of marriage is well known and the church will continue to lobby both state and federal politicians to ensure the Act is not changed."

Presbyterian minister Campbell Markham was also unhappy with the result: "Today's Greens motion is an attack on the basic rights of children."




Click the link to see ABC's News Coverage

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Australian Government Changing Passport Options


Transsexual activists have welcomed a move to allow Australians to identify themselves on their passport in their preferred gender.

Intersex people, who are biologically not entirely male or female, will be able to list their gender on passports as "X."

Transgender people, whose perception of their own sex is at odds with their biology, will be able to pick whether they are male or female if their choice is supported by a doctor's statement. Transgender people cannot pick "X."

Previously, gender was a choice of only male or female, and people were not allowed to change their gender on their passport without having had a sex-change operation.
The United States dropped the surgery prerequisite for transgender people's passports last year.

The Australian Coalition for Equality said people would now be able to travel overseas without being stopped by officials because their passport doesn't match their public identity.

"From that point of view, it's a huge step forward," spokeswoman Martine Delaney said.

"It's an incredible embarrassment to be a woman for years but still have a passport that says they're male."

Ms Delaney said she knew of a man who had lived as a woman for 25 years but was unable to have a sex change for medical reasons.

In this case, US customs officials had detained her because they were confused about her gender.

Ms Delaney, 53, was born a man but underwent a sex change eight years ago.
The Hobart-based transsexual spent two years in a "transition" period, but did not travel overseas during that time.

She met senior advisers to Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd at Parliament House in Canberra in July to be told about the new guidelines.

Ms Delaney commended Mr Rudd and Attorney-General Robert McClelland, saying the changes would give "greater recognition" to transgender and intersex Australians.
"The flow-on effects acknowledge these people are human beings with rights," she said.

Under new rules unveiled on Wednesday, gender reassignment surgery will no longer be a prerequisite for "sex and gender diverse" people to get a passport identifying them the way they wish.

But they will need to present a statement from a doctor supporting their preferred gender.

The changes are expected to affect only a handful of people.
Mr Rudd said the reform was in line with the Government's efforts to remove discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.



Re-Posted from News.com.au

Monday, September 12, 2011

Britney Spears - Femme Fatale Australia Tour Rumour

Two years after her controversy-filled visit Down Under, Britney Spears is rumoured to return to our shores. An official announcement is yet to be made but it's believed Spears, who has just announced a new South American leg of her Femme Fatale tour, will come to Australia in late November/early December. Spears is grinding through the American leg of her extensive 67-date World Tour and is set to trek to Europe in September before she does two shows in Brazil in early November.
Reported in 'The Herald Sun' August 01, 2011

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Vengaboys 2012 Australian Tour


That's right party people the Vengabus is coming to Sydney in January 2012

It’s time to dust off that tatty old party pass because the Vengabus is due at any minute. And God forbid you miss it. 90s European chart toppers, the Vengaboys, are heading to Australia this summer with a brand new album, rather gloriously entitled ‘Rocket To Your Uranus’.

The new album marks a sparkling return to form for the party-centric foursome. Back after a brief hiatus with their tongues firmly in cheek and doing what they do best.

The Vengaboys are probably best remembered for a string of Euro- flavoured party anthems originally released back in the mid-1990s, most notably ‘Boom Boom Boom’ and ‘We’re Going To Ibiza’. They not only dominated the pop charts but permeated dance floors across the globe, from weddings to nightclubs and pretty much any social/embarrassing occasion you can think of.

The group are set to cause similar destruction this year, following up their album with a tasty XXX remix of ‘Parada de Tettas’ and a recent sell out show in Eindhoven. Fans of the Vengaboys can watch the fun unfold simply by taking a look at their rather entertaining twitter feed. The joys of the digital age.

Wed 11 Jan The Hi-Fi QLD
Thu 12 Jan The Corner Hotel VIC
Fri 13 Jan Selina's - Coogee Bay Hotel NSW
Sun 15 Jan Coolangatta Hotel QLD

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Clover announces Oxford Street Drag Makeover




City of Sydney will revitalise the West end of Oxford Street by opening spaces to creative industries and new businesses.



Last Monday’s Council meeting confirmed the long discussed project, which includes leasing Council land to artists, retailers and cafes; fostering more street-side plants and conducting day-time waste clean-ups.



Lord Mayor Clover Moore said fostering a diverse mix of tenants would attract more people to live, shop and eat around Oxford Street and ultimately boost the local economy.




“We agree with business owners and the local community that it could be better, and to make the most of Oxford Street, we need to think creatively and work together.”



By strategically using our vacant properties on the south end of Oxford Street, we can kick-start a creative rebirth of the area.”



Council will begin taking expressions of interest next month and aims to have creative tenants in by Christmas.



Greens Councillor Irene Doutney praised the project for finally answering loud calls from the lower Oxford Street community.



“This is fantastic. It has been long sought for . . . I just hope the base of the community is happy for this to go ahead.”



Sue Ritchie, Vice President of 2010 Darlinghurst Surry Hills Business Partnership, said the news was evidence of the start of a working relationship between Council and the community.



“It’s been a long time coming, nevertheless it’s great news.”



Ms Ritchie said although she was thrilled with the news, she thought the project could be expanded to the rest of Oxford street.



“We are looking for council to be more responsive to the community from Park to Park. That is from Hyde Park to Centennial Park,” she said.



“Oxford Street is the spine that has driven creative industry around . . . It has been neglected and it has seen many cuts . . . Rather than let it deteriorate, while the focus is on the other areas like Barangaroo, we want to keep Oxford Street strong.”



Ms Moore responded by stating the City has delivered a $45 million package, which featured more than 50 individual projects to improve the shopping strip and over $236,000 for community groups running local creative projects.



Taken from Alternative Media Group

Author:Nicholas Jordan Posted:Thursday, 25 August 2011

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Janet Jackson - Up Close & Personal

Last week it was announced that Janet Jackson would be coming to Australia to perform her current Number Ones World Tour in October and November 2011. Instead of performing this concert at Acer Arena or the Sydney Entertainment Centre, Janet Jackson has decided to do the concerts in Australia in a more personal atmosphere.

The tour which is now named in Australia as "Number Ones: Up Close & Personal" is a more fitting title being that she has chosen the Sydney Opera House, Concert Hall.

Tickets for the show go on sale on Wednesday 3rd August 2011. The list of concert dates are as follows for Australia;

DATE LOCATION

TUE 18 OCT

PERTH

BURSWOOD THEATRE

SAT 22 OCT

ADELAIDE

FESTIVAL CENTRE

WED 26 OCT

MELBOURNE

ARTS CENTRE, STATE THEATRE

THU 27 OCT

MELBOURNE

ARTS CENTRE, STATE THEATRE

WED 2 NOV

GOLD COAST

CONVENTION CENTRE

SAT 5 NOV

SYDNEY

OPERA HOUSE, CONCERT HALL

SUN 6 NOV

SYDNEY

OPERA HOUSE, CONCERT HALL

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Gaga a Go-Go in Gay Old Night on the Town


IT HAS taken a couple of Sydney drag queens to bring out the ''real woman'' in Lady Gaga. On Tuesday night, it was up to Courtney Act, aka Shane Jenek, and fellow drag artiste, Heaven Lee (aka Perry Meek) to introduce the pop star to Sydney's pink mile, Oxford Street.

Doubling as hand maidens for the reigning Queen of Pop, the bewigged duo accompanied Gaga at her two impromptu shows at gay clubs, Nevermind and Arq, navigating the hordes of fans desperate to catch a glimpse of their idol at the frantically organised last-minute shows.

''She really is the most genuine, down to earth and engaging person you could hope to come across,'' a slightly hoarse-voiced Jenek told PS yesterday morning.

Jenek had accompanied Gaga during her mini concerts at both clubs, spending the wee hours of Tuesday morning at the downstairs bar at Arq, on Flinders Street, which had been roped off for Gaga, her dancers and entourage, which comprised a ragtag gaggle of drag queens, muscle men and fruitcakes.

Gaga managed to indulge in Sydney's nocturnal delights away from the prying lenses of the paparazzi and, by all accounts, was enjoying herself immensely.

Jenek met Gaga last year when he, as Courtney Act, did a special birthday performance for the pop star during her stop in Canberra.
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Wearing 15cm heels, Jenek serenaded Gaga with the Rocky Horror hit Sweet Transsexual before giving her a lap dance. Gaga's father, Joe Germanotta, who had flown in for the party, was also rather taken with the routine, offering Act his hand so ''she'' could climb on to the table.

''I would have forgiven her for forgetting my name, but I was totally blown away. She remembered me like I was one of her best friends. She is an awesome woman … a very real woman,'' Jenek gushed.

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