The petition
ON Friday, November 18, 2005, the National Association of People Living with HIV/AIDS (NAPWA), the peak non-government advocacy organisation representing PLWHA Groups in Australia, released a ‘Declaration of Rights for PLWHA.’
As it currently stands, NAPWA’s document has been carefully crafted in such a way that GLBTIQ Human Rights are not specifically mentioned.
The Order of Perpetual Indulgence of the Great Southern Land (OPI GSL) is disturbed by the failure of the NAPWA Declaration of Rights to step outside of the dominant white, male cultural hegemony and to name GLBTIQ specifically in the Declaration. As queer people, we spend our lives resisting the assumption of heterosexuality, and to find a national organisation that is involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS falling into the trap of not naming minorities is disappointing.
The specific acknowledgement of the needs and rights of indigenous people in the Declaration is to be applauded, as indigenous Australians endure appalling discrimination and racism, and it indicates that the writers of the Declaration had some awareness of the issues of discrimination. It’s a pity that the writers and ratifying organisations didn’t also acknowledge the discrimination that GLBTIQ people face every day of their lives, as it has resulted in a flawed document that does not properly acknowledge or represent GLBTIQ (HIV+) people.
NAPWA seems to have forgotten that 80% of PLWHA in Australia identify as GLBTIQ.
On the 24th of October 2006, the OPI’s ‘National Conclave of the (Bloody) Great Southern Land’, in Perth, will commence with a formal signing of a ‘Declaration of Human Rights for GLBTIQ People’ that will include a request to NAPWA that they redraft their flawed document to include specific reference to GLBTIQ (HIV+) People. OPI Perth, as hosts of the National Conclave, are inviting all GLBTIQ individuals, groups and supporters of GLBTIQ human rights in Australia to participate in by signing this NAPWA DUMPS GAYS Petition.
A hard copy (paper) petition is available for download and print at the OPI GSL webiste. www.opigsl.org Please feel free to photocopy and distribute this petition to the members of your gathered faithful. Completed forms may be returned to PO Box 276, Bayswater, WA. 6933, AUSTRALIA.
With many thanks in advance, and blessings from The Order of Perpetual Indulgence of the Great Southern Land. Enquiries & further information? theconvent@opigsl.org
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