The Victorian AIDS Council warns about the effects of a marriage equality plebiscite on LGBTI health and wellbeing

As an organisation at the coalface of mental health in LGBTI communities, the Victorian AIDS Council (VAC) has warned that the effects of a divisive public debate during a plebiscite on marriage equality could be devastating. VAC met with Opposition Leader Bill Shorten today to provide feedback alongside other LGBTI organisations on the negative impacts of a plebiscite campaign for LGBTI communities. “It is deliberately misleading to suggest that a plebiscite on marriage equality would be for the benefit of LGBTI people. Our communities do not want this,” said VAC CEO Simon Ruth. “As we said to the Opposition Leader, we already see the terrible cost of homophobia and transphobia for LGBTI communities, and we can only imagine how much worse it could get during a divisive and vitriolic public debate.” VAC manages an LGBTI counselling service, which sees clients from the community who are often dealing with the mental health impacts of homophobia and transphobia. “Many of our clients struggle with the effects of homophobia and transphobia, which LGBTI people can encounter on a day-to-day basis. These messages of hate and fear understandably take their toll, and this is a major contributing factor to mental health issues within our communities,” Ruth continued. “The Australian Christian Lobby have already said that much more than marriage equality will be on the table during a plebiscite campaign—this will become a debate about our right to exist.” VAC President Chad Hughes said VAC would continue to speak out against a national plebiscite on marriage equality. “VAC has consistently advocated against holding a plebiscite on marriage equality, and our reasons for doing so have not changed. A plebiscite is costly, it is unnecessary and it has the potential to cause harm to some of the most vulnerable in our community,” said Hughes. “We are particularly disturbed that the Federal Government has committed to funding homophobia, with $7.5 million proposed for groups like the Australian Christian Lobby to say that our relationships and our families are not valid. This would be nothing less than state-funded homophobia.” “Our community is united on this, and we have already waited too long for this basic right. It is insulting and unfair for Parliament to continue to delay what should be an easy reform. This could be taken care of tomorrow with a free vote.”