Equal Voices Submission on the Religious Discrimination Bill 2019
For those of you who haven't got time to read through the lengthy Equal Voices submission to the 'Religious Freedom' Bills, below is a summary, highlighting its key themes. For the full document click here. The government has released what’s called an ‘exposure...
Become a member – Meet Simon
Equal Voices has the vision of an equal place at the table. We are LGBTIQA+ people with our Allies connecting collaborating and advocating across Australia on matters of inclusion. Become member today.
Plunged again into avoidable grief
Equal Voices grieves with all LGBTIQ+ people who are feeling afresh the pain and trauma of their experiences of Sexual Orientation Change Efforts (SOCE) in Christian churches in the wake of the recent media release from Hillsong...
A response to ‘those’ words
There has been much written about Israel Folau’s recent comments. I could go into a theological treatise about why his interpretation of ‘those’ passages are wrong. I could ask him to think about the impact of his words on people. I could also decry him as not being a...
The End of the Family?
A sermon preached by Associate Professor Michael Horsburgh in St James’ Church, King Street, Sydney, on the First Sunday after Christmas, 31 December 2017
Losing Family
I grew up in the church. I grew up loving Jesus and trusting in God. As a child, I was told that the church was my family, that after we died we would be together forever in heaven. I was told that even if I had nothing else I would have the church: my siblings in...
The Biblical Law of Marriage
“Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You...
Christian Leaders Hit Back At Lyle Shelton Over Gay Conversion Therapy Remarks
Reverend Margaret Mayman, minister of the Pitt Street Uniting Church. Christians who support same-sex marriage have hit back at prominent "no" campaigner, Australian Christian Lobby managing director Lyle Shelton, over his comments that parents should have the right...
How the Bible is misused in relation to sexuality
There are no reports of anyone asking Jesus about his thoughts on same-sex marriage. Maybe because concepts of identity and sexuality have evolved greatly since he walked the Earth. (Pic: Getty) AS an Anglican priest, I believe that the legalisation of same-sex...
Matthew 19 and the ‘Definition’ of Marriage
The two primary biblical texts being used by the No camp in the same-sex marriage debate are Genesis 1-2 and Matthew 19. In what follows, I will concentrate my attention on the Matthew passage. There is no actual definition of marriage in the bible, and so these two...
Marriage Equality – One More Small Step
By Malcolm McPherson Ben Jago[i], when his partner, Nathan, died in 2015 in Tasmania, found that de facto relationships may not always be recognised as they ought. The attending police officers, the coroner and the funeral director refused to acknowledge Ben and...
The Reality and Goodness of Same-Sex Love Demands the Extension of Marriage Rites
Same-sex marriage is a logical extension of the acceptance of homosexuality; conversely, the denial of marriage rites is an indication of failure to accept homosexuality. The Rev. Gary D. Bouma is Emeritus Professor of Sociology at Monash University, and Associate...