Living Library – Book: Noah

Just like any normal library, books will be available to borrow, engage with and learn from. Except the Books, in this instance, will be real people with a unique personal experience or perspective that they will generously share with Readers.

Find out more about the Books in this Living Library.

To secure your place, please Select a date and Register (button on the right hand side) for an available session.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Book: Noah

Title: Marriage equality in Australia: my happiness as a political ping-pong ball

Summary: The LGBTQI community is painfully aware of being pawns in a seemingly endless game between the major political parties. Isn’t it high time for change?

The world continues its slow march in the direction of marriage equality for all. The shift in positions and mindsets by heterosexuals is no accident, as those in the LGBTQI community have been encouraging each other to share our stories and become more visible in society. LGBTQI people celebrated the United States Supreme Court ruling of Obergefell v Hodges in 2015 with hopes that it would act as a catalyst and inspire other nations to move in the same direction.

Here in Australia, the effects were acutely felt. Polls show the majority of citizens are in favour of legalising same-sex marriage; however, this issue has been used as a political ping-pong ball by both major parties over the years. While our politicians jockey for power and attempted to appease the LGBTQI community with a non-binding plebiscite and its tax-payer funded hate speech, anger and frustration continue to build.

If you remove the extra labels, I am a human being first, just like you. Do I not deserve the same rights to happiness? Every day that passes is an opportunity to get on the right side of history. I’m still waiting.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Available sessions for Noah:

• Monday 27 March 2017
• Tuesday 4 April 2017