Open Letter - Academics in support of LGBTIQ rights and inclusion
May 17 was the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia and Transphobia. Since 1990 this date has given pause to reflect on the ongoing stigma and discrimination experienced by many sexual and gender minorities, as well as to reignite efforts towards full recognition of the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) people.

Last week, RMIT University celebrated Pride Week recognising the valuable contributions of our LGBTIQ staff and students and to assert our collective commitment to inclusion and belonging at RMIT. Academics at Criminology and Justice Studies proudly stood with the RMIT community in expressing our support for marriage equality, firm in our values and shared belief that it is a basic right that adults, regardless of who they love, should be recognised equally by Australian law. We furthermore endorse RMIT University’s position recognising gender diversity, and that a person’s sex and gender may not necessarily be the same.  

Yet, we are deeply concerned that there remain some within Australian society more broadly who would deny the equal rights and inclusion of our LGBTIQ staff and students, and who affiliate themselves with discriminatory practices that are inconsistent with the full recognition, equal participation and self-determination of LGBTIQ people.  

In particular, we reject discriminatory and harmful practices directed at changing a person’s gender identity or sexuality. Such ‘reparative’ or gay ‘conversion therapy’ refers to a range of practices that falsely claim to change a person’s gender identity or expression or sexual identity. It is a widely discredited practice, that is opposed by a range of experts including the Australian Psychological Society and the Australian Medical Association due to the significant harm caused to people undergoing these unscientific treatments. The International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims and Independent Forensic Expert Group have declared conversion therapy unscientific and as violating the global ban on torture and ill-treatment. Conversion therapy is causing real harm in Victoria, with the Premier Daniel Andrews MP referring to the practice as “bigoted quackery”.  

We support recent and proposed legal changes by the Victorian Government to remove legal barriers preventing the full and equal recognition of our LGBTIQ community, including changes to birth certificate laws to recognise a person’s gender, and proposed reforms to clearly and unequivocally ban conversion therapy. Such discriminatory practices deny the full personhood, citizenship and equality of LGBTIQ people and have no place in an equal and just society. Conversion therapy is ethical malpractice and there is no place for the practice in our health care system.

We, the undersigned, declare our support for the human rights and inclusion of our LGBTIQ colleagues and students at RMIT University and beyond. This support for our LGBTIQ community is not only vital for the wellbeing of our staff and students, but consistent with our core values of equality, human rights and justice for all in our community.

In the interest of fairness, equality and justice, we call on our colleagues across RMIT University and Australia to join us in rejecting discriminatory and harmful practices such as conversion therapy and declaring support for LGBTIQ human rights and inclusion.  

Signed:

Anastasia Powell, Associate Professor, Criminology & Justice Studies, RMIT University

Larissa Sandy, Senior Lecturer, Criminology & Justice Studies, RMIT University

Rebecca Hiscock, Associate Lecturer, Criminology & Justice Studies, RMIT University

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Thank you to everyone for their support.
We have closed the letter to new signatories, as of 10am on the 3rd of June 2020.

However Equality Australia have a petition open to change the law to ban conversion practices:

https://equalityaustralia.org.au/endconversionpractices/ 
230 co-signatories (last updated 3rd June 2020):
Lucy Maxwell, Associate Lecturer, Criminology and Justice Studies, RMIT University  

Nadia David, Associate Lecturer, Criminology and Justice Studies, RMIT University  

Marietta Martinovic, Senior Lecturer, Criminology and Justice Studies, RMIT University  

Sarah McCook, Sessional Tutor & PhD Candidate, Criminology and Justice Studies,  RMIT University  

Joseph MacFarlane, Sessional Tutor & PhD Candidate, Criminology and Justice Studies,  RMIT University  

Monique Moffa, Associate Lecturer, Criminology and Justice Studies, RMIT University  

Lena Molnar, Sessional Tutor & PhD Candidate, Criminology and Justice Studies, RMIT University  

Sharlene Nipperess, Senior Lecturer, Social Work and Human Services, RMIT University  

Peta Malins, Senior Lecturer, Criminology & Justice Studies, RMIT University  

Juliet Watson, Senior Lecturer, Social and Global Studies Centre, RMIT University  

Shaez Mortimer, Research Assistant & PhD Candidate, Criminology & Justice Studies, RMIT University  

Emily M. Gray, Senior Lecturer & Higher Degrees by Research Delegated Authority, School of Education, RMIT University  

Michele Ruyters, Associate Dean, Criminology and Justice Studies, RMIT University  

Nicholas Hill, Research Associate, Social and Global Studies Centre, RMIT University

Toni Hilland, Senior Lecturer, Health and Physical Education, RMIT University  

Andrea Chester, Dean, Education, RMIT University  

Melanie Nash, Senior Lecturer, Health and Physical Education, RMIT University  

Vandra Harris, Senior Lecturer, International Development, RMIT University  

Catherine Gomes, Associate Professor, School of Media and Communication, RMIT University  

Rachel Meuwly, Laboratory Technician VCE, Education, RMIT University  

Una Stone, Associate Lecturer, Criminology & Justice Studies, RMIT University  

Josephine Ng, Senior Lecturer, Education, RMIT University  

Nicky Carr, Senior Lecturer, Education, RMIT University  

Anna Hickey-Moody, Professor of Media and Communication, RMIT University  

Katherine Johnson, Professor and Director Social and Global Studies Centre, RMIT University  

Nicola Henry, Vice-Chancellor's Principal Research Fellow, Social & Global Studies Centre, RMIT University  

Joni Meenagh, Lecturer, Criminology & Justice Studies, RMIT University  

Polly Bennett, Tutor and Researcher, School of Management and GUSS, RMIT University  

Annette Gough, Professor, Centre for Urban Research, RMIT University  

Jeffrey S. Brooks, Professor and Associate Dean, Research & Innovation, RMIT University School of Education  

Seth Brown, Lecturer, School of Education, RMIT University  

Brian Coffey, Vice-Chancellor's Research Fellow, Centre for Urban Research, RMIT University  

Wendy Steele, Associate Professor, Centre for Urban Research, RMIT University  

Julie Carmel, Early Childhood Program Manager (GD108 & BP260), School of Education,  RMIT University

Kate Kennedy, Bachelor of Justice and Criminology (Honours), RMIT University  

Anj Maklary, Technical Officer, School of Art, RMIT University & Deputy Chair Diversity & Inclusion WP, School of Art, RMIT University  

Marg Liddell, Associate Professor, Criminology and Justice Studies, RMIT University  

Alyssa Sigamoney, Sessional Tutor, Criminology and Justice Studies, RMIT University  

Tully O’Neill, Sessional Tutor & PhD Candidate, Criminology and Justice Studies, RMIT University

Sharon Simon, Industry Fellow (Family Violence), Criminology & Justice Studies, RMIT University

Linda Knight, Associate Professor, Early Childhood, RMIT University  

Mikayla Burge, Bachelor of Justice and Criminology (Honours), RMIT University  

Melissa Laing, PhD Candidate, Social & Global Studies Centre, and Sessional Tutor, Social Work & Human Services, RMIT University  

Glen Donnar, Senior Lecturer, School of Media and Communication, RMIT University  

Bronwyn Hughes, Personal Assistant, School of Art, RMIT University  

Sara Calcagno, Bachelor of Justice and Criminology (Honours), RMIT University  

Peter Kelly, Professor, School of Education, RMIT University  

Gregory Stratton, Lecturer, Criminology & Justice Studies, RMIT University  

Mary Kelly, Bachelor of Social Science (Honours), RMIT University  

Lisa Harris, Senior Lecturer, Criminology & Justice Studies, RMIT University  

Jose Roberto Guevara, Associate Professor, International Development, RMIT University

Naomi Wilks-Smith, Lecturer, School of Education, RMIT University

Glenda Mejia, Senior Lecturer, Global and Language Studies, RMIT University  

Susan Mate, Senior Lecturer, School of Education, RMIT University  

Stefani Vasil, PhD Candidate, Social & Global Studies Centre, RMIT University  

Benjamin Cooke, Senior Lecturer, Social of Global, Urban and Social Studies, RMIT University  

Tania Lewis, Professor and Director of Digital Ethnography Research Centre, RMIT University  

Robin Cameron, Senior Lecturer, Criminology & Justice Studies, RMIT University  

Isabella Capezio, tutor and PhD candidate, School of Art, RMIT University

Kathryn Daley, Lecturer, School of Global, Urban & Social Studies, RMIT University

Mathew Ling, Lecturer, School of Psychology, Deakin University

Andrew Stapleton, Senior Coordinator Digital Learning, College of Design and Social Context, RMIT University

Ryan Storr, Lecturer in Sport Development, Western Sydney University

Bianca Fileborn, Lecturer in Criminology, University of Melbourne

Sophie Hindes, PhD candidate, University of Melbourne

Lennon Chang, Senior Lecturer, Criminology, Monash University

Breanan Turner, PhD Candidate, RMIT

Dr Lorraine Cherney, Sessional Academic, The University of Queensland

Matthew Ball, Associate Professor, Queensland University of Technology

Rachael Burgin, Lecturer, Swinburne University of Technology

Richard McGrath, Lecturer, University of South Australia

Anthony K J Smith, Doctoral Candidate

Dave McDonald, Lecturer in Criminology, University of Melbourne

Kathryn Henne, Professor and Director of the School of Regulation and Global Governance, Australian National University

Kate Burns, Lecturer, Monash University

Andy Kaladelfos , Lecturer, School of Social Sciences, UNSW

Noah Risema , Professor of History, Australian Catholic University

Christy Newman, Associate Professor and Associate Dean, UNSW Arts and Social Sciences

Tanja Dreher, Associate Professor, School of Arts and Media, UNSW

Sal Clark, Lecturer in Sociology, Swinburne University of Technology

Indigo Willing, Griffith University

Lorana Bartels, Professor of Criminology, ANU; Adjunct Professor of Law, University of Canberra and University of Tasmania

Stuart Richards, Lecturer Screen Studies, The University of South Australia

Andy Kaladelfos, Lecturer, School of Social Sciences, UNSW

Tierney Marey, Equity Officer and PhD student, UNSW

Samantha Mannix, PhD Candidate and Tutor, University of Melbourne

Bonnie Stevens, PhD Candidate, School of Design, RMIT University

Shannon Stuart, Research Assistant, School of Justice, QUT

Gail Crimmins, Senior Lecturer, University of the Sunshine Coast

Karen Hands, Lecturer, University of the Sunshine Coast

Elise Hunkin , Lecturer, School of Education RMIT

Michelle Walter, PhD Candidate, Melbourne Graduate School of Education, the University of Melbourne

Cade Tsang, PhD Candidate, Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, Edith Cowan University

Iain Jeffery, Phd Candidate, Swinburne Law School, Swinburne University of Technology

Rico Tabor, Associate Professor and ARC Future Fellow, Monash University

Alexandra Ciaffaglione, PhD Candidate, School of Education, RMIT University

Michael Crowhurst, Lecturer Education RMIT

Georgina Heydon, Associate Professor, criminology and justice Studies, RMIT University

Dr Melanie O'Brien, Senior Lecturer, School of Law, UWA

Stephen Foley, Australian Laureate Fellow, Macquarie University

Meribah Rose, Sessional academic, University of Melbourne and La Trobe University

Kim Humphery, Associate Professor, Sociology & Social Theory, RMIT University

Steven Roberts, Associate Professor of Sociology, Monash University

Natalie Hendry, Postdoctoral Fellow

Emma Colvin, Senior Lecturer, Charles Sturt University

Bridget Harris, Senior Lecturer, Queensland University of Technology

Brodie Evans, Visiting Fellow, Queensland University of Technology

Sofie Aspinall , RMIT University

Gabriel da Silva, Senior Lecturer, The University of Melbourne

Angela Dwyer, Associate Professor Police Studies and Emergency Management, University of Tasmania

Simona Castricum, PhD Candidate, University of Melbourne

Rosie Joy Barron, PhD student, University of Melbourne

Kate Davison, PhD student & tutor, University of Melbourne

Marziya Mohammedali, Edith Cowan University

Sharlene Leroy-Dyer, Lecturer in Management, University of Queensland

Jay Daniel Thompson, Lecturer, School of Media and Communication, RMIT University

Eduardo Jordan, Sessional Academic, School of Humanities, Griffith University

Samantha Ashby, University of Newcastle

Casey McLoughlin, Senior Lecturer, Newcastle Law School, the University of Newcastle

Amber Karanikolas, PhD candidate, La Trobe University

Sarah Casey, Lecturer, University of the Sunshine Coast

Priya Kunjan, PhD Candidate, University of Melbourne

Joanne Faulkner, Senior lecturer, Macquarie University

Shan Windscript, PhD Candidate, University of Melbourne

Sharon Cooper, Sessional Academic, University of Newcastle

Timothy Kariotis, Research Fellow, Melbourne School of Government

Belinda Morrissey , Lecturer, Federation University

Daniel McKinnon, Sessional Tutor & PhD Candidate, School of Education UQ

Margareta Windisch , Associate Lecturer Social Work RMIT

Luka Bungaree , Bachelor social science criminology major, University of Newcastle

Anastasia Kanjere, Sessional Academic, La Trobe, Monash and Navitas

Marcus Banks, Casual academic, School of Economics, Finance & Marketing, RMIT University, Honorary Fellow, School of Social & Political Sciences, University of Melbourne

Denise Emmerson, Administration, The University of Newcastle

Sarah Marshall, Student Union, RMIT University

Vicky Nagy, Lecturer Criminology, University of Tasmania

Duc Dau, Honorary Research Fellow, UWA

Brianna Hoff, Honours student, Social work and human services, RMIT University

Elsa Tuet-Rosenberg Bachelor of Social Work (Honours)/Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology)

Cara Tizon, RMIT

Molly Broughton-Jones, Youth Work, Community Services (Case Management) RMIT University

Bryce Cresswell, Alumni

Paula Tenorio, Bachelor of Social Science - Psychology

Catherine Finch, RMIT Student

Nicole Hart, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, the University of Melbourne

Tahly Ennis, Student of Bachelor of Social Work, RMIT University

Eva Myszka, RMIT graduate

Yana Grant, Bachelor of Social Work, RMIT University

Sebastian Cordoba, Lecturer RMIT University

Chris Hunter, Student RMIT University  

Oliver Robertson, Social Work Student, RMIT University

Lindsay Marchment, Social Work Student, RMIT University

Natalie Felemonow, Social Work student, RMIT University

Vanessa Weir, Student, Master of Social Work, RMIT University

Lisa Milne, Deakin university

Claire Spivakovsky, Senior Lecturer, University of Melbourne

Ali Goodall, RMIT graduate BSW(Hons)

Stephen Jasper, Sessional lecturer, RMIT University

Julia Bennett, Juris Doctor student, RMIT University

Nevena Spirovska , Co-Convener, Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby

Kate Hepworth, Bachelor of Social Work(Honours)/Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) student

Michaela Markovski , Social work and psychology student RMIT university

Ruth Callander , Sessional lecturer, Holmesglen Institute, Masters student, Faculty of Education, Monash University  

Ashleigh Bond, Social Work Student

Laura Hallahan, Social Work/Psychology Student, RMIT

Saoirse Wolf,  BSW honours 1st class, PhD Psychology

Mardhie E Coleman, Federation University

Maria Pallotta-Chiarolli, Researcher, Gender and Sexuality Studies, Deakin University

Marilyn Palmer, Lecturer in Social Work, Edith Cowan University

Montana McPherson , Social Work/ Psychology student, RMIT University

Fleur Summers, Lecturer RMIT

Koby Hagenfelds, Social Work student, RMIT University

Grant O’Sullivan, Research Officer, La Trobe University

Michael Carden , Postgraduate Student Support and Event Coordinator, Griffith University

Niva kaspi, Phd candidate, UWA

Janine Harrison, Lecturer - Social Work, Flinders University

Anna Denejkina, Lecturer, Western Sydney University

Michael Bernard Kelly , Adjunct Research Associate, Centre for Religious Studies, Monash University

Dr. Gemma Hamilton, Lecturer, Criminology and Justice Studies, RMIT University

Dalia El-Sharnouby, RMIT graduate Masters of Social Work

Jade Wren Pearson, Research Masters University of Canberra

Carolyn D'Cruz , Senior Lecturer, Gender Sexuality & Diversity Studies, La Trobe University

Ella O'Hagan, RMIT Graduate MSW

Michael Emslie, Lecturer, RMIT

Jackson Fairchild, Research Officer, College of Science, Health and Engineering, La Trobe University

Rosslyn Prosser , Senior Lecturer University of Adelaide

Catherine Sutton-Brady , Associate Professor of Marketing The University of Sydney

Melissa Pocock, Lecturer, Griffith University

Nicolette Pankovics , Criminology & Justice Studies, RMIT University

Chloe Cannell, PhD candidate, University of South Australia

Michael W Peraica, Bachelor of Social Work (Honours), RMIT University

Cai Holroyd, Journalism Student, RMIT University

Ashleigh Elkington , RMIT Student

Anthony J. Langlois, Associate Professor, Flinders University

Amelia Walker Lecturer, University of South Australia

Brittany McCormack, BSW Honours, RMIT University

Mikayla Burley, Bachelor of Criminology & Psychology, Master of Teaching Practice (Secondary) student, RMIT University

Brahm Marjadi, Senior Lecturer, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University

Ryan Thorneycroft , Lecturer in Criminology, Western Sydney University

Oskar Summers Dixon , Social Work Student, RMIT University

Anna Cody, Professor, Dean School of Law Western Sydney University

Alison Downham Moore, Associate Professor of modern European history, Western Sydney University

Penelope Rossiter, Senior Lecturer Western Sydney University

Liz McNeill, Midwifery Lecturer, Flinders University

Kathryn Harries, PhD Candidate and occasional Lecturer, Deakin University

Louise Reid, Alumni, CQU

Rev'd Matthew Anstey , Associate Professor, College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (Theology), Flinders University

Peter Sandeman, Industry Professor UniSA Business University of SA

Robyn Whitaker, Senior Lecturer, University of Divinity

Rev Dr Amelia Koh-Butler, Chaplain to Western Sydney University, Adjunct Lecturer Flinders U, CSU

Rev’d Christy Capper, Lecturer in theology, Adelaide College of Divinity and Flinders University

Josephine Armour, Adjunct Lecturer in Theology, Charles Sturt University

William Loader, Emeritus Professor of New Testament, Murdoch and UCA Minister

Peter Kline , Lecturer in Theology, Charles Sturt University School of Theology

The Revd Dr Josephine Inkpin, Lecturer in Theology, St Francis College Brisbane, Charles Sturt University

Steven Geoffrey Ogden, Research Fellow, PACT, Charles Sturt University

The Revd. Penelope Jones, Lecturer in Theology Charles Sturt University, St Francis Theological College Brisbane

Liz Boase, Dean School of a Graduate Research, University of Divinity

Tara Conradt, Sessional Lecturer - Theology - Alphacrucis

Revd Peter Llewellyn, Snr Lecturer Biblical Studies (rtd), St Mark's NTC/Charles Sturt University

Liam Elphick, Sessional Academic, La Trobe University

Lorna Hallahan , Social Work, Flinders University

Rev Dr Gregory Jenks, Dean of Grafton & Adjunct Senior Lecturer, School of Theology, Charles Sturt University

John Godfrey, Swinburne University of Technology

Ven. Dr. Michael Godfrey, Archdeacon and Director of Ministry Education, Diocese of Dunedin, PhD (ACU), BD (MCD)

Rahul Sinha, Student and Academic Services Coordinator, Western Sydney University

Peter Bansel, Associate Dean HDR, WSU

Rosalind Bellamy, La Trobe University

Rachel Chapman, Lecturer and Course Developer, Bachelor of Education (Early Years), Melbourne Polytechnic

Christina Kenny , Lecturer, Sociology, University of New England

Priscilla Dunk-West, Senior lecturer, Flinders University


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