Religion & Spirituality Archives - Mad Wednesdays

Religious Freedom Discrimination Bill – how worried are we?

Dean — Wed, 03 Jul 2019 23:11:48 +0000

Things take a serious turn on from the usual fun of MAD Wednesday as we dive into the Religious Discrimination Bill.

With Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s decision to delay the introduction of the Bill, does this allow time for further consultation with our communities?

Dean spoke to Arman Hosie from the national LGBTIQ+ organisation Equality Australia, who is in Canberra speaking to politicians and taking the temperature of things over there.

How concerned should we be?

Soon after this interview went to air, details of the Bill and articles came to light that caused greater concern for our communities that our rights may be stripped away, so how do we get balance?

Dean dives in.

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Community Meeting on Ruddock Religious Freedom Review with Felicity Marlowe

Dean — Thu, 18 Oct 2018 00:10:25 +0000

With the Ruddock Religious Freedom Review Report not yet public and just the leaked comments in The Age (October 10, 2018) and only commentary from the Guardian and ABC to go on, it is clear to many of us that there are many more questions than answers at this stage.

On Thursday 18th October a community forum in Melbourne to get everyone on the same page to understand what we are up against. Felicity Marlowe from Rainbow Families Victoria joined Dean & Robbie on MAD Wednesday to give us a breakdown of what we can expect from the forum and to discuss why we need to come together.
With the Victorian state election on November 24 and the federal election due sometime before May 2019, it is time to get informed, organised and active!

This community meeting is an opportunity to bring your questions, concerns and ideas. This will be an action meeting. Find out more details here.

NEED TO TALK?
Switchboard Victoria provides free online counselling for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI) people and their friends, families and allies.
Call 1800 184 527 from 3pm to midnight everyday.

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Housemates returns to ABC

Dean — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 11:21:38 +0000

Scott Brennan joined Michael and Dean for MAD Wednesday as Mashup Pictures proudly announces the launch of the second series of innovative documentary television program Housemates.

Beginning on Wednesday October 4th and airing over four weeks on ABC2 at 9.20pm and on- demand at ABC iview. Housemates uncovers the unique, unusual, and sometimes crazy ways Australians have made share housing work. Sharing a fridge or a bathroom with strangers is never easy. In a time where finding a place to live is the number one concern for youth in Australia, could you live in these houses?

In Series 2 of Housemates, we meet four very different share houses. From the all-male self-described “discipleship” house, where two housemates are leaving and a new one, chosen by Jesus, is about to arrive. To an all-female share house where two vegans and one meat-eater, all with strong opinions, are trying to get along and be waste free, while also trying to make it work with a new housemate who has just moved in. To a house where three male strippers, one ex-girlfriend, and one couple must manage all their relationships as they live and work together in a house where nudity and pranks are commonplace. And to a share house of seven new-age hippies, who are opening their share house up to the community in order to live outside of the capitalist system, race the clock to be ready for their launch party.

Housemates is a documentary series that shines a light on how Australians live, but could you live in these houses?

The original Series 1 can be viewed here: http://iview.abc.net.au/programs/housemates/

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“It’s not about marriage equality, it’s just about equality!” Reverend Ric Holland

Dean — Wed, 30 Aug 2017 21:56:26 +0000

It’s not often that Michael and Dean from MAD Wednesday stop talking, but Reverend Ric is such a lovely and genuine individual that they couldn’t help but hang on every word when he joined them on the show.

Last week a sign went up outside St Michael’s Uniting Church saying ‘Marriage Equality YES’, and Reverend Ric Holland popped into JOY to have a chat about why he did that and honestly…. for the religious experience we have been waiting for.

“The whole reason I’m making a stand on this is, what can be wrong with two people committing themselves to each other and wanting to celebrate this publicly and make this legal.”

When it comes to religion and our community, especially when it comes to the Marriage Equality debate, we are so used to hearing quotes from the bible flung at us to knock us down that it might take some of you by surprise when you hear such a welcoming and heartfelt commitment to common sense and christianity.

“It’s not about marriage equality, it’s just about equality!”

What a character, it really was an absolute joy to have Reverend Ric Holland pop by JOY, and we thank St Michael’s Uniting Church for their continued support of our communities.

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