Brave Network Melbourne

17/02/2022

Last Friday night Brave Network and our sister group SOGICE Survivors were recognised together across two categories at the GLOBE Community awards in Melbourne.

It was a long-deserved recognition for the tireless and often traumatising work survivors have undergone over the last few years. The recognition in both Advocacy of the Year (along with the rest of the members of the Victorian Conversion Campaign Coalition*) and in receiving the Inspiration Award were in light of our persistent work (and success) with banning conversion practices in Victoria.

This world-leading legislation came into effect YESTERDAY! This means that practices that seek to change or supress a person's inherent sexuality or gender identity are now against the law in Victoria.

It's been a huge 12 months (and the rest) for the whole team, and the GLOBE Awards were a wonderful recognition of that. The fact that this legislation is now enforceable law means that so many will be spared from the damages of conversion practices, beginning today.

Thanks to all our champions and allies over the years for believing in this work and getting behind us, and supporting our belief that LGBTQIA+ folk are a loved and essential part of God's intended human diversity.

*The Victorian Conversion Campaign Coalition was a working group of representatives from: Brave Network, SOGICE Survivors, Q***r Middle-Eastern and African Christians in Australia, Equality Australia, Victorian Pride Lobby, Thorne Harbour Health, and individual survivors who bravely and successfully advocated for change. We applaud each and every one of these courageous participants who incessantly and successfully agitated for change — we did it!

***

To learn more about Brave head to thebravenetwork.org

Visit http://socesurvivors.com.au/ to read the survivor statement and add your support

Head to the Victoria Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission read more about the act: https://www.humanrights.vic.gov.au/legal-and-policy/victorias-human-rights-laws/change-or-suppression-conversion-practices-prohibition-act-2021/about/

04/03/2021

For survivors of sexual assault and abuse in Australia, this week has been particularly rough. The Brave Network would like to acknowledge the pain and stress recent high profile stories have caused for victims, and particularly for LGBTQA+ victims, for whom there can be added layers of trauma and complexity.

If you are struggling to process or find places of calm and safety, help is available.

- 1800 Respect: 1800 737 732
- Lifeline (24 hour crisis line): 131 114
- Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636

04/02/2021

01/02/2021

Some Ballarat residents awoke last week to find flyers in their mailbox from the Australian Family Association claiming Victoria's new Bill to ban conversion practices would "restrict parents' rights". The

30/01/2021

Brave Network, SOGICE Survivors, Equal Voices, Uniting Network and Rainbow Catholics InterAgency for Ministry wrote the attached letter thanking Victoria's Labour Government for its bold support of LGBTQA+ rights. In it, we also respond to concerns raised by conservative groups whose recent letter to the premier of Victoria, advertising and email campaigns have demanded the bill be suspended until it is amended to their satisfaction.
We applaud the steps taken thus far by the Victorian government in ensuring this bill is of a world class standard and look forward with expectation as it passes through the Victorian Legislative Council in the days ahead.

The Hon. Daniel Andrews MP Premier of Victoria Parliament House Spring Street East Melbourne Victoria 3002 30 January 2021 Dear Premier, This letter is written to you by the following groups and organisations: • Brave Network • SOGICE Survivors • Uniting Network, the LGBTQIA+ committee o...

10/12/2020

This is a great step forward in seeing this life changing and protective bill being written into law. Hearing the MPs speak and share letters in support was simultaneously amazing and heart breaking.

The bill passed the Legislative Assembly 55-0!

It's been a long time coming and there will be a big push to get this through the upper house next year when parliament returns.

For those who have advocacted, consulted, listened and spent tireless, unlogged and unpaid hours to make this happen- THANK YOU!! Every hour, voice and contribution makes change happen.

The Change or Suppression (Conversion) Practices Prohibition Bill 2020 has passed the Victorian Legislative Assembly!

Today, Victorians have witnessed dozens of wonderful contributions from MPs in support of the Bill today-- with many quoting letters that you wrote to them.

It's not over yet, the Bill will return to the Upper House next year and it will need your continued pressure on our leaders to pass the Bill.

Together we can make sure that LGBTQ+ people feel whole and valid just as they are, and are free to live their lives authentically and with pride.

09/12/2020

Brave Network Melbourne and Sogice Survivor Statement collaborated on this op-ed in The Age yesterday.

It is vital that survivors' perspectives are at the forefront of conversations about the Vic Change and Suppression Practices (Conversion) Bill -- please share!

Every state and territory should follow suit to criminalise dangerous conversion practices.

10/10/2018

If you're interested in a conference with an incredible line up of LGBTIQA and affirming Christian leaders, last minute tickets to this weekend's Equal Voices conference are still available. Program below.

Tickets: www.equalvoices.org.au/conference

05/10/2018

Call for change includes prayer, Bible study and sermons

10/09/2018

For Christian groups to claim the Bible speaks against same-sex marriage is simply a misreading of biblical values, writes Robyn Whitaker.