Call for second anti-gay men's health ambassador to go
Discrimination undermines gay health; Mitcham would make "perfect ambassador"
27 November 2008
Gay rights advocates have welcomed Health Minister, Nicola Roxon's removal of a newly-appointed mens' health ambassador who signed an anti-gay manifesto, but say a second ambassador implicated in endorsing discrimination must also be removed.
Today Ms Roxon announced that the anti-gay views of the Fatherhood Foundation's Warwick Marsh disqualify him from being a mens' health ambassador, but accepted that Lone Fathers' representative, Barry Williams, has repudiated the manifesto despite signing it.
Australian Coalition for Equality spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said that Mr Williams is also implicated in re-inforcing discriminatory attitudes.
"Mr Williams has advocated against legal entitlements and protection for same-sex couples and their families in submissions to parliament and in his organisation's own newsletters", Mr Croome said.
"These discriminatory attitudes undermine better health outcomes for gay men by stigmatising them as unfit parents and second-class citizens."
Mr Croome called on Ms Roxon to appoint a gay mens' health ambassador, and to establish a committee to advise her on broader issues of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender health.
"As an openly-gay Olympian and Sports Performer of the Year Matthew Mitcham would be the perfect ambassador to replace Messrs Marsh and Williams", Mr Croome said.
"Several State Health Ministers already benefit from the advice of expert gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender advisory committees, and clearly Ms Roxon would too."
For more information contact Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668.
Examples of Mr Williams support for legally-enshrined discrimination against same-sex couples and their families can be found at http://www.lonefathers.com.au/newsletter/oct-nov-08.pdf and http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/legcon_ctte/family_law/submissions/sub_13.pdf
