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In 2013 a [[Rainbow flag (LGBT movement)|rainbow flag]] was added to [[Rising Sun (badge)|Rising Sun badge]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2013/12/04/australia-defence-department-defends-production-of-pride-flag-cufflinks/ |title=Australia: Defence Department defends production of pride flag cufflinks |author=McCormick, Joseph|date=4 December 2013|work=[[Pink News]]|accessdate=13 October 2017}}</ref> |
In 2013 a [[Rainbow flag (LGBT movement)|rainbow flag]] was added to [[Rising Sun (badge)|Rising Sun badge]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2013/12/04/australia-defence-department-defends-production-of-pride-flag-cufflinks/ |title=Australia: Defence Department defends production of pride flag cufflinks |author=McCormick, Joseph|date=4 December 2013|work=[[Pink News]]|accessdate=13 October 2017}}</ref> |
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Former [[Special Air Service Regiment|SAS]] commander and politician [[Andrew Hastie (politician)|Andrew Hastie ]] has asked, "Why is the ADF now a vehicle for radical [[Social engineering (political science)|social engineering]]?"<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/defence/hastie-blasts-taxpaperfunded-sexchange-surgery-for-adf/news-story/b26cc28a1f90ab9f136991b84966d2c7 |title=Hastie blasts taxpaper-funded sex-change surgery for ADF |author=Brown, Greg|date=14 October 2017|work=[[The Australian]]|accessdate=14 October 2017}}</ref> |
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== Effect of inclusion on troop morale == |
== Effect of inclusion on troop morale == |
Revision as of 02:39, 14 October 2017
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/83/Sydney_Mardi_Gras_2013_-_8522985059.jpg/250px-Sydney_Mardi_Gras_2013_-_8522985059.jpg)
Australia has allowed gay and lesbian personnel to serve openly in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) since 1992.
Since 1 January 2009, domestic partners of LGBTI personnel have had the same access to military retirement pensions and superannuation as opposite-sex couples.
Australia also permits transgender people to serve openly.
History
In 1982, the Department of Defence was of the view that homosexuality among Australian servicemen and women had a negative impact on discipline and moral and should not be accepted.[1]
In June 1992, the Minister for Defence Robert Ray reaffirmed the prohibition on homosexuality in Australia's armed forces, accepting a recommendation by the defence chiefs. Adrian d'Hagé, a public relations officer in Defence told media that the presence of an admitted homosexual in defence units could be divisive.[2] Senator Ray's decision was opposed by several Labor party politicians of the day, including Attorney-General Michael Duffy.[3]
On 23 November 1992, the First Keating Ministry met to consider whether the ban on homosexuals in the Australian Defence Force should be lifted. Following the meeting, Prime Minister Paul Keating announced that the Government had decided to end discrimination preventing homosexual people serving in the defence forces, effective immediately.[4][5] Opposition spokesman on defence Alexander Downer told media that, if elected, the Coalition would immediately reinstate the ban if the service chiefs were to advise for it.[6]
In 2003, the Howard Government blocked same-sex partners of military personnel from receiving the benefits of a support program that partners in heterosexual relationships were able to access.[7] Since 1 January 2009, same-sex couples within the Australian Military, are treated the same as de facto opposite-sex couples, that extends many military benefits (e.g. Defence housing and superannuation). LGBTI people to a certain degree, harassment issues continue to exist in the Australian Forces, most observers believe that problems faced by women soldiers are more serious than those faced by gay personnel.[citation needed]
Acknowledging the 20th anniversary of the lifting of the ban in November 2012, Defence Force chief David Hurley said he was proud of the diversity of Australia's military.[8]
An official defence contingent joined the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras for the first time in 2008 and the contingent marched in uniform for the first time in 2013.[9] Unofficial support groups had marched in the parade from 1996, initially against the wishes of the ADF's headquarters.[10]
In 2013 a rainbow flag was added to Rising Sun badge.[11]
Former SAS commander and politician Andrew Hastie has asked, "Why is the ADF now a vehicle for radical social engineering?"[12]
Effect of inclusion on troop morale
A study conducted in 2000 by Aaron Belkin and Jason McNichol found that the lifting of the ban on gay service had not led to any identifiable negative effects on troop morale, combat effectiveness, recruitment and retention or other measures of military performance. The study also found that the lifting of the ban may have contributed to improvements in productivity and working environments for service members.[13]
DEFGLIS
The Defence Force Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and Intersex Information Service (DEFGLIS),[14][15] founded in 2002 by Petty Officer Stuart O'Brien,[10] supports and represents Australian Defence Force LGBTI personnel and their families.[16] It does this through professional networking and peer support, by strengthening defence capability through greater inclusion of LGBTI people, and by educating defence about LGBTI matters.
DEFGLIS is registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission as a charity.[17]
RAAF Wing Commander Vince Chong has been President of DEFGLIS since 2012.[18] He has said that one of the biggest areas of progress was the increasing level of support and acceptance of trans* people.[19]
Transgender and gender-neutral personnel
From ADF records[20] between November 2012 and March 2016, 27 ADF members received treatment for gender dysphoria. Seventeen had sex-change surgery. Ten of those were male-to-female reassignments at a cost of $1,052,330, not including the cost of ADF dispensed pharmaceuticals, or the cost of transition leave. For the ADF, "challenges posed by transgender personnel" include non-deployable periods and the use of toilets and bathrooms. Sex discrimination laws may be exempted by the ADF for gender-neutral personnel who are employed in key roles.[21]
The RAAF has produced a document for Airforce Cadets entitled Gender Transition Guidelines designed to build understanding and respect within the organisation.[22][23] In conjunction with the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT) the RAAF is creating opportunities to partner with LGBTI-supporting agencies.[23]
Awards
DEFGLIS won a 2013 Gold Award at the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras for the "Show Stopping Parade Entry".[24] Defence Force Recruiting and DEFGLIS won the Fair Day Stall of the Year at the 2015 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras[25]
DEFGLIS President Vince Chong has been awarded a gold commendation from the Vice Chief of the ADF for his leadership of the organisation.[26]
References
- ^ "Department 'will not accept' homosexual behaviour". The Canberra Times. 21 January 1982. p. 11.
- ^ "Ray backs force chiefs on gays". The Canberra Times. 19 June 1992. p. 1.
- ^ Connors, Tom (19 September 1992). "Cabinet to life service ban on gays 'within weeks'". The Canberra Times. p. 3.
- ^ Keating, Paul (23 November 1992). "Australian Defence Force policy on homosexuality" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 22 October 2016.
- ^ "Australia Ends a Prohibition On Homosexuals in Military". New York Times. 24 November 1992.
- ^ Peake, Ross (24 November 1992). "Uproar as Govt ends forces' ban on gays". The Canberra Times. p. 1.
- ^ Walsh, Kerry-Anne (26 October 2003). "Gay couples miss out on military aid". The Sun Herald. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 10 December 2003.
- ^ "Twenty years since ADF ends gay ban". The Australian. News Corp. AAP. 24 November 2012.
- ^ Department of Defence (7 March 2015). "Largest ever Defence contingent to march in Mardi Gras parade" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 15 March 2015.
- ^ a b "LGBTI History in Defence". DEFGLIS. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
- ^ McCormick, Joseph (4 December 2013). "Australia: Defence Department defends production of pride flag cufflinks". Pink News. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
- ^ Brown, Greg (14 October 2017). "Hastie blasts taxpaper-funded sex-change surgery for ADF". The Australian. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
- ^ Belkin, Aaron; McNichol, Jason (1 September 2000), The Effects of Including Gay and Lesbian Soldiers in the Australian Defence Forces: Appraising the Evidence, archived from the original on 15 June 2016
- ^ "DEFGLIS Serving with pride". DEFGLIS. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
- ^ "DEFGLIS - Defence LGBTI Information Service". Facebook. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
- ^ DEFGLIS: Serving with pride
- ^ "Charity Name: DEFGLIS Defence LGBTI Information Service Incorporated". Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission. 1 January 2002. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
- ^ "Beyond Combat: History and the military's other tasks" (PDF). UNSW. 13 July 2017. p. 7. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
- ^ Brook Benedict (8 September 2015). "I'm proud of the contributions LGBTI people make to Defence. Senior Australian military chief". Star Observer. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
- ^ "Air Force diversity handbook: Transitioning gender in Air Force and related documents" (PDF). Australian Defence Force. July 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
- ^ Kelly, Joe (13 October 2017). "Taxpayers' $1m bill for soldier sex change ops". The Australian. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
- ^ Kelly, Joe (22 September 2017). "Cadet X clears a path for gender-neutral Aussie soldiers". The Australian. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
- ^ a b "International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia - 17 May 2017 Inclusion and Diversity". Facebook. May 2017. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
- ^ Chong, Vince. "Gold Award for Australian Defence Force". Retrieved 13 October 2017.
- ^ "Defence wins Mardi Gras awardauthor= Smith, James". Retrieved 13 October 2017.
- ^ Dennett, Harley (26 May 2013). "Hubby @VinceRAAF being awarded a gold commendation". Twitter. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
Further reading
- Goldberg, Suzanne B. "Open Service and Our Allies: A Report on the Inclusion of Openly Gay and Lesbian Servicemembers in U.S. Allies' Armed Forces," William & Mary Journal of Women & Law (2011) v 17 pp 547–90 online