The Informer

12 Apr 2016

The US’ New ‘Anti-LGBTI’ Laws – Coming Out Against Cultural Adversity in Melbourne

News & Politics

The United States appears to be miles ahead of Australia in terms of marriage equality but the recent passage of sweeping draconian and seemingly anti-LGBTI legislation in the states of North Carolina and Mississippi suggests ongoing bigotry and discrimination.

Last month, the North Carolina Senate passed legislation that blocks the passage of anti-discrimination laws and forces transgender people to use bathrooms that match the gender on their birth certificates.

To make matters worse, on Tuesday Mississippi’s governor signed a bill that allows individuals and institutions with certain religious values to deny services to same-sex couples.

This week, Joy’s Ruby Susan chats to Huffington Post’s Noah Michelson about the social and political reactions in the wake of the new anti-LGBTI laws, and how their implementation sets a backward spin on America’s seemingly democratic stance on LGBTI rights.

In the second part of this week’s program we follow on from last week’s topic of coming out in culturally and linguistically diverse communities in Melbourne.

Our host, Emma Arnold talks to Jordy McGauren, a first generation Australian from a Sri Lankan/South African background, about not only the cultural difficulties he faced in coming out to his loved ones but his ability to be himself and feel safe in doing so, within the Melbourne community.

Host: Emma Arnold with Ruby Susan
Producers: Emma Arnold, Stephanie McLean and Ruby Susan.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:07 — 57.5MB)

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