ࡱ> 576` bjbjss 7(FRRRR ^J,~~~~~~~~$h*&~~~~~&~~;~v~~~~r %R:Q0?.x??P~~~~~~~&& ~~~~~~~JJJN JJJN $.  Graeme Moffatt Human Rights & Equal Opportunity Commission samesex@humanrights.gov.au Dear Sir/Madam, Thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the inquiry. [Details removed] From conversations and friendships over the years, in many ways I consider myself fortunate. I am a gay male who has worked in the financial services industry for nearly 15 of my 35 years, and while the working environment is by no means perfect (and I will detail this below), given that financial services industry requires the avoidance, as so far as possible, of any controversy, this offers some protection. Friends and others I know, especially those who have worked with smaller employers and in predominantly manual laboring positions, have often been subject to physical and verbal harassment, ridicule, bullying and assault of themselves and their property. While I wish I could advise younger people of today that they could expect equal treatment in the workplace, I would say the only way that this would be possible was to keep their sexuality concealed. I applaud the steps that have been taken in an attempt to offer some protection, in reality I would doubt that many people would turn to legal remedies for protection or rectification of the situations that they face. In my opinion, one of the largest backward steps for gays and lesbians in regards to their basic rights would be two years ago when the Federal Government passed the marriage amendments. The announcement by our Prime Minister that the passing of the amendment was a great victory for Australian values; immediately alienated gays and lesbians from the rest of society, and gave credence to many peoples wish to deny gays and lesbians equal rights and protections. For myself, some of the overt instances of inequality that I have experiences have included: I was advised by a fellow staff member of a manager who had mocked me after I had left from a staff meeting. On an occasion of dealing with a bi-lingual client, I was asked did I speak any Cantonese myself (a number of my colleagues spoke Cantonese in the workplace). I advised other than a few basic phrases, no I did not. The client told me that he thought that this was the case, as what was being discussed by my colleagues was not of a business or personal nature, it was about myself and, as my client advised, it is not of a favorable nature. On an occasion where I had to take my partner to hospital and I phoned to request from my manager to arrange cover for two presentations I had to make that day. I was told that this was inconvenient and if I couldnt make it, for me to make contact with the clients to reschedule. This was despite occasions where I had come in from annual leave and worked after hours to fill in for other staff members in similar situations. I had to take my partner to hospital, drive into the city (get a parking ticket), drive back to hospital to arrange lunch for my partner, drive to second appointment (get second parking ticket) before returning to be with my partner for treatment. When my partners mother passed away, after both of us caring for her in her final days, I was only offered annual leave to arrange her funeral and for the period after her funeral. Her brother unexpectedly passed away three weeks after this, I was only given half a day to attend the funeral, I couldnt even take an annual leave day. Despite repeatedly attempting to name my partner of eleven years as my binding beneficiary for superannuation in the event of my death, at first this was just disregarded, and then he was only noted as a non binding beneficiary Another instance that really shook me and showed me how little things had changed in many ways was occurred to a senior colleague of mine during my employment with one our major bank. My colleague,[name withheld], as an indication of the regard he was held in for his professional abilities, was that he was the relationship manager to the banks largest single customer group. He was taken aside and advised that rumors had circulated in regards to his sexuality. He was further advised that if any basis was found for the rumors, it would affect his possibility for promotion. In light of this, he decided to leave and was hired by an international bank. Many people would ask why he did not take legal action or lodge a complaint, but I would imagine that the financial services industry is much like any other close knit community - any hint of non conformity is quickly spread by people seeking to advance themselves at the expense of others trying to achieve their goals through legitimate hard work. I sincerely believe that if there was formal Commonwealth recognition of same sex relationship so as to give our partners (and in many cases, that of our children), this would demonstrate to Australians that we are just like anyone else, and deserving, as I would say, the Three Rs ie Rights, Responsibilities and Recognition; as any other Australians. One of the issues that I really believe that the Commonwealth recognition of same sex relationship would also go some lengths to address would be that of youth suicide. Coming from a rural background, I dont think that there would be anyone in rural area that has not known at least one young person who has tragically taken their young life. Commonwealth recognition would demonstrate to all Australians youth that they are entitled to ability to form and to have their relationships recognised and celebrated just the same as anyone else, despite whatever bigotry that they may be subject to. 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