ACON Pride Inclusion Programmes
LGB Alliance Australia was formed in 2020 by a group of Australian-based lesbian, gay, and bisexual men and women because we felt our historic gay organisations no longer represented us. Australia did not have a nationwide advocacy group exclusively for same-sex attracted people prior to our group's formation. We have a growing membership in every state and territory and exist to represent the unique interests of LGB Australians, and the rights of those with same-sex sexual orientation.
As a health organisation, we absolutely applaud and support the work and achievements of the AIDS Council of NSW (ACON). ACON have been fundamental in lowering HIV infection rates through their broad education and comprehensive campaigning programs in NSW. In particular, their STI testing and PrEP roll-out stand out as major successes. We also support their more recent awareness campaign for Monkeypox Virus, which has particularly affected gay and bisexual males.
We feel the Pride Inclusion programs - a separate branch of ACON - are an important initiative with poor execution. We acknowledge the role of programs in the workplace and sporting organisations to provide education and sensible recommendations to ensure the equal participation of LGB people in both employment and broader society. However, we share the concerns raised by the ABC’s recent Media Watch episode regarding the effect on journalism broadly, but our national broadcaster, the ABC, specifically. This discussed corrosion to impartial reporting when organisations, such as the ABC, pay to be endorsed by a lobby group (ACON) who rewards the reporting of a one-sided narrative, rather than balanced reporting, as is required of journalism in order to truly represent the breadth of views and experiences in Australia.
Unfortunately, the current Pride Inclusion programs appear to be political lobbying campaigns disguised as health initiatives. Well-meaning organisations sign up for the scheme, without realising that the prioritisation of gender ideology includes suggestions that negatively impact LGB people (who the scheme is advertised as being for), as well as women. This impacts both private and public organisations, which treat Pride Inclusion as an authority on inclusion policies.
As homosexuals, exclusively same-sex attracted individuals, we reject the redefinition of sex and sexual orientation to be based on gender identity, which introduces the opposite sex into our sexual orientation by definition. This does not reflect our reality and is disrespectful to our sexual orientation. It erodes our sex-based rights and the tireless campaigning of LGB people for acceptance and equality. We also find the erasure of bisexuality, individuals who are attracted to both sexes, to be deeply unhelpful and disrespectful. Unfortunately, ACON, like its UK-equivalent, Stonewall UK, has prioritised gender identity at the expense of the LGB people it was formed to represent and protect.
Through these programs and relationships with other groups who were formerly dedicated to gay and lesbian rights, ACON has substantial influence over the “LGBTQI” community and does not acknowledge we are not a homogenous group but multiple groups facing distinct and sometimes conflicting challenges. To provide a program that genuinely benefits and respects LGB people, this would require an acknowledgement of the importance of sex-based rights, the very basis and categorisation of our sexual orientations.
We applaud the ABC’s Media Watch for their excellent coverage of this issue; a brave decision in the current climate, and in opposition to the primary narrative by the ABC of “no debate”.
We would encourage everyone to watch their coverage at:
https://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/episodes/acon/101544378