Contemporary LGBTI Issues in Australia: Newspaper Article Analysis

This report provides an overview of contemporary LGBTI issues in Australia, focusing on the period surrounding the legalization of same-sex marriage. It analyzes media coverage, specifically comparing the reporting styles of The Daily Telegraph and The Australian regarding the Australian referendum on same-sex marriage. The report delves into the historical context of the gay rights movement in Australia, highlighting key legislative changes and the evolution of attitudes towards the LGBT community. It also examines the role of media in shaping public perception and advocating for LGBT rights, referencing relevant legislation such as the Human Rights (Sexual Conduct) Act 1994 and the Sex Discrimination Amendment (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Intersex Status) Act 2013. The analysis includes a discussion of the referendum results, public opinion, and the impact of media representation on the advancement of LGBT rights in Australia. This report underscores the importance of legal protections and societal acceptance for the LGBT community.

CONTEMPORARY
LGBTI ISSUES IN
AUSTRALIA
Perspectives from Newspapers articles

Introduction
• LGBTI or Lesbian ,Gay,
Bisexual, Transgender and
Intersex rights movement is
ongoing throughout the world.
• Aimed at uprooting
discrimination against the
LGBT people throughout the
world.

Present situation of LGBT
Community in Australia
• The laws that were
discriminating towards the
LGBT Community was
removed between 1975 to
1997.
• December 2017 was historic
as same sex marriage was
recognised and legalised.
• Most of the discriminating
laws were inherited from the
British Empire (Nash &
Gorman‐Murray, 2014).

The Historic Day!
• Results of votes from the people
of Australia was released on 16th
November 2017
• Finally the same sex marriage bill
was passed by the Australian
Parliament in December 7th 2017.
• “The lower house passed
marriage equality with almost all
members of the governing
Liberal-National Coalition joining
Labor, the Greens, and
crossbench MPs in a free vote to
pass the bill” (Karp, 2017)

The Australian Referendum on
Same Sex Marriage
• A polling/Survey was conducted
by Australian Administration.
• This is to know the people’s
mandate on the same sex
marriage issue.
• The people of Australia came out
in large numbers to vote.
• More than 12.7 million people
voted in huge 79.5% turnout
(Evershed,2017).
• 61.6% voted in favour of same-
sex marriage.

All newspapers reporting the
Australian referendum on same
sex marriage!• All the news papers of the
country reported about the
historic referendum in a
positive light.
• Only exception was The Daily
Telegraph which had a
“gloomy” front page.
• The rainbow coloured “Yes”
representing the positive vote
for legalisation of same sex
marriage was carried in all the
newspapers.

The “DAILY TELEGRAPH” reporting
the incident.
• While others reported the
incident with rainbow flags,
and snaps of celebration, the
Daily Telegraph chose to be
sarcastic (Thedailytelegraph,
2017).
• The front page carried the
picture of “Al Bundy
from Married with Children,
the unhappiest husband in TV
history.”
• This reflects the consequences
of marriage in a sarcastic way. Newspaper
FrontPage 1

Analysis of the front page.
• The news paper could have reported the incident in a positive
light, like other news papers did.
• The news paper wanted to show its sarcastic side by including the
most unfortunate husband in the TV history thus reflecting how
marriages can negatively impact the life of people.
• “NOW WE CAN ALL SHARE THE JOY” in bold white colour added to
the Sarcasm.
• The news paper faced much backlash on social media.

The “THE AUSTRALIAN” reporting
the incident. • The Australian reported the
incident in a positive way with
a large font headline stating
“NATION SAYS YES”
(Theaustralian, 2017).
• A picture of celebrations of
people with the rainbow flag.
• There was details of the
referendum given.
• Front page was in stark
contrast of “THE DAILY
TELEGRAPH”.Newspaper
FrontPage 2

Analysis of the front page.
• The front page was positive, and it was celebrating the fact that
same sex marriage was now supported by the Australian
population.
• The bold headline with large fonts stating “NATION SAYS YES”
reflected the general mood of the nation.
• Everyone’s sexual preference must be given equal rights and
marriage should not be discriminated depending on the gender.
• Australia is a liberal democracy giving individual their right to
decide about their preference and partner.
• The sub headline is “Wedded to the future, past pains over”.

Comparing both the news papers
front page.
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
• The newspaper reported the
incident in a negative way.
• The newspaper chose to be
sarcastic.
• The newspaper did not publish
any rainbow or celebration
photos
THE AUSTRALIAN
• The newspaper reported the
incident in a positive way.
• The newspaper report chose
to be direct.
• The newspaper published
celebration photos.

The Australian Gay Rights
Movement
• There have been several
troughs and crests in the gay
rights movement in Australia.
• The Discriminatory Acts were
mainly sourced from British
Colonial Rule.
• In 1975 South Australia
decriminalised Gay sex
(Bernstein, 2015).
• 2008 Property rights were
given to the community.

Protection of LGBT community
from discrimination
• The Human Rights (Sexual
Conduct) Act 1994 states the
state cannot interfere in
consensual sex among two
adults.
• Sex Discrimination
Amendment (Sexual
Orientation, Gender Identity
and Intersex Status) Act 2013.
makes it illegal for anyone to
discriminate against the
community.

Conclusion
• The LGBT movement has been
happening throughout the
world and in most of the
developed nations rights of
the community are asserted.
• There are many more
countries around the world
were LGBT rights are still not
recognised.
• Media can play an important
role in helping the community
to ensure their rights.

Reference:
• Bernstein, M. (2015). Same-sex marriage and the future of the LGBT movement: SWS presidential
address. Gender & Society, 29(3), 321-337. Doi: 10.1177/0891243215575287
• Evershed, N. (2017). Full results of Australia's vote for same-sex marriage, electorate by
electorate – interactive. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/datablog/ng-
interactive/2017/nov/15/same-sex-marriage-survey-how-australia-voted-electorate-by-electorate
• Karp, P. (2017). Marriage equality law passes Australia's parliament in landslide vote. Retrieved
from https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/dec/07/marriage-equality-law-passes-
australias-parliament-in-landslide-vote
• Nash, C. J., & Gorman‐Murray, A. (2014). LGBT neighbourhoods and ‘new mobilities’: Towards
understanding transformations in sexual and gendered urban landscapes. International Journal of
Urban and Regional Research, 38(3), 756-772. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-2427.12104
• Theaustralian. (2017). NATION SAYS YES. The Australian. Retrieved from
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/
• Thedailytelegraph. (2017). NOW WE CAN ALL SHARE THE JOY. The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved from
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au