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| GPs' college endorses marriage equality after heavy criticism | GPs' college endorses marriage equality after heavy criticism |
| (4 months later) | |
| Royal Australian College of General Practitioners says it can no longer sit on sidelines on issue that harms mental health | |
| Paul Karp | |
| Mon 2 Oct 2017 22.36 BST | |
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| The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners has endorsed marriage equality after bitter criticisms from doctors who accused it of sitting on the sidelines during a debate that affects LGBTI people’s health. | The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners has endorsed marriage equality after bitter criticisms from doctors who accused it of sitting on the sidelines during a debate that affects LGBTI people’s health. |
| In a statement to members sent on Monday evening the college’s president, Bastian Seidel, said it supported marriage equality “as part of valuing diversity and inclusion”, while recognising the “absolute right” of members to hold and express their own personal views. | In a statement to members sent on Monday evening the college’s president, Bastian Seidel, said it supported marriage equality “as part of valuing diversity and inclusion”, while recognising the “absolute right” of members to hold and express their own personal views. |
| The Royal Australasian College of Physicians, Australian Medical Association and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists had all already endorsed marriage equality. | The Royal Australasian College of Physicians, Australian Medical Association and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists had all already endorsed marriage equality. |
| The RACGP discussed marriage equality at its August council meeting and as recently as Friday Seidel said that according to the council, same-sex marriage is a “matter members should consider … carefully for themselves”. | The RACGP discussed marriage equality at its August council meeting and as recently as Friday Seidel said that according to the council, same-sex marriage is a “matter members should consider … carefully for themselves”. |
| I represent the @RACGP, so: Council believes that for this matter members should consider the issues involved carefully for themselves | I represent the @RACGP, so: Council believes that for this matter members should consider the issues involved carefully for themselves |
| Doctors criticised the stance, arguing that a neutral position was in effect “supporting discriminatory behaviour” and labelled it “appalling”. | Doctors criticised the stance, arguing that a neutral position was in effect “supporting discriminatory behaviour” and labelled it “appalling”. |
| Really?!? That’s appalling @DrBastianSeidel | Really?!? That’s appalling @DrBastianSeidel |
| Five of Australia’s most respected mental health groups launched a public campaign in favour of same-sex marriage, claiming the reform could prevent up to 3,000 high school suicide attempts every year. | Five of Australia’s most respected mental health groups launched a public campaign in favour of same-sex marriage, claiming the reform could prevent up to 3,000 high school suicide attempts every year. |
| Last week ReachOut.com reported a 17% increase in the number of LGBTI young people seeking support through their service during the postal survey period. | Last week ReachOut.com reported a 17% increase in the number of LGBTI young people seeking support through their service during the postal survey period. |
| In the Monday statement, Seidel acknowledged that marriage equality “is a human rights issue”. He said the RACGP council had “provided a neutral statement in order not to add to the debate” because it shared the Australian National Mental Health Commission’s concerns that “the prolonged debate has heightened discrimination against LGBTIQ people”. | In the Monday statement, Seidel acknowledged that marriage equality “is a human rights issue”. He said the RACGP council had “provided a neutral statement in order not to add to the debate” because it shared the Australian National Mental Health Commission’s concerns that “the prolonged debate has heightened discrimination against LGBTIQ people”. |
| Seidel said at the August meeting no members had asked the RACGP council to make a statement but it had since become clear that they expected “an explicit position statement on issues that affect the mental health of our LGBTIQ members, colleagues and patients”, including marriage equality. | Seidel said at the August meeting no members had asked the RACGP council to make a statement but it had since become clear that they expected “an explicit position statement on issues that affect the mental health of our LGBTIQ members, colleagues and patients”, including marriage equality. |
| He said the RACGP “could no longer sit on the fence” on any issue affecting members and patients and he regretted it had not met that standard. He cited the RACGP curriculum for Australian general practice which states that mental health of LGBTI people in Australia is “a significant concern”. | He said the RACGP “could no longer sit on the fence” on any issue affecting members and patients and he regretted it had not met that standard. He cited the RACGP curriculum for Australian general practice which states that mental health of LGBTI people in Australia is “a significant concern”. |
| “Lesbian, gay and bisexual people are three times more likely than heterosexual people to experience depression,” it said. “Transgender males and females are at the highest risk for both abuse and depression, and 20% of individuals who identify as transgender and 15.7% of individuals who identify as LGB report regular suicidal ideation.” | “Lesbian, gay and bisexual people are three times more likely than heterosexual people to experience depression,” it said. “Transgender males and females are at the highest risk for both abuse and depression, and 20% of individuals who identify as transgender and 15.7% of individuals who identify as LGB report regular suicidal ideation.” |
| The curriculum also notes that LGBTI people are disadvantaged by societal stigma and are less likely to access health services. | The curriculum also notes that LGBTI people are disadvantaged by societal stigma and are less likely to access health services. |
| Seidel said the RACGP acknowledged that “discrimination, bullying and harassment of LGBTIQ people does have a severe, damaging impact on mental and physical health outcomes for affected individuals, their families and communities”. | Seidel said the RACGP acknowledged that “discrimination, bullying and harassment of LGBTIQ people does have a severe, damaging impact on mental and physical health outcomes for affected individuals, their families and communities”. |
| “The RACGP council strongly endorses equality and inclusion regardless of race or ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation, religion or disability in all aspects of life, in particular, education, employment, medical care, relationships and certainly marriage.” | “The RACGP council strongly endorses equality and inclusion regardless of race or ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation, religion or disability in all aspects of life, in particular, education, employment, medical care, relationships and certainly marriage.” |
| On Monday the marriage equality advocate Kerryn Phelps, a former AMA president, told Sky News that “people who have a sense of fairness and justice are talking about voting yes”. | On Monday the marriage equality advocate Kerryn Phelps, a former AMA president, told Sky News that “people who have a sense of fairness and justice are talking about voting yes”. |
| Nevertheless, she said, many LGBTI people had been “distressed” by the tone of the no campaign. | Nevertheless, she said, many LGBTI people had been “distressed” by the tone of the no campaign. |
| Same-sex marriage postal survey | |
| Health | |
| Marriage equality | |
| Australian politics | |
| LGBT rights | |
| Australian law | |
| news | |
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