LGBTIQ Taskforce Justice Working Group: meeting 4 (29 June 2020)

On 29 June 2020, the LGBTIQ Justice Working Group held its fourth meeting.

The list of members, terms of reference and communiques are available.

Specific matters considered

IBAC Hares and Hyenas investigation

Representatives from IBAC attended to provide an overview of IBAC’s police oversight jurisdiction and the Hares and Hyenas investigation and findings. The investigation focussed on the facts of the incident to determine whether the entry was lawful, whether the use of force was not disproportionate, and if there any criminal offences or breaches of discipline by Victoria Police members. IBAC has also asked Victoria Police for further information on the operation of the Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT), with Victoria Police due to respond by the end of June 2020.

IBAC noted work being undertaken to improve community engagement, including engagement with LGBTIQ communities.

Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Change Efforts (SOGICE) Survivor Statement

Nathan Despott, co-founder of Brave Network, attended to provide an overview of the SOGICE Survivor Statement, which is written by survivors of the conversion movement. The statement has recently been updated to reflect the most accurate description of, and recommendations to address, the LGBTQA+ conversion movement in Australia. Key aspects of the SOGICE Survivor Statement include the ideology, false and misleading claims, and core assertions of the conversion movement, and recommendations to curtail the conversion movement.

Members raised and discussed matters including:

• A response to curtail conversion practices that focuses on preventing harm, supporting survivors and preventing conversion ideology and false and misleading claims about the origins of a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity being broadcast or communicated in public, online, civic and vocational education domains. Civil and criminal penalties could also be appropriate depending on the circumstances in which conversion practices occur.
• The prevalence of ‘informal’ conversion practices, and the significant harm that is caused by underpinning ideology and constant messaging to LGBTIQ people that they are ‘broken’.
• The importance of community education on conversion ideology and the nature and harm of conversion practices.
• The importance of an approach that reduces the burden on survivors to make complaints, as many survivors are not in a position to raise complaints due to trauma. Raises the need to increase regulatory powers and checks for consumer and professional peaks.

Working Group members expressed their support for the SOGICE Survivor Statement.

Next meeting

The LGBTIQ Justice Working Group will reconvene on 31 August 2020.