SIOBHÁN LEYNE

Siobhán Leyne is a fairly ordinary Australian who lives in the Canberra suburbs with her partner and two dogs where she grows veges, composts and celebrates equality. Siobhán has been a long-time supporter of building the Canberra queer community and currently co-runs the ACT Queer e-mail list which is designed to encourage and support all queer people's access to and participation in the diverse range of social and community activities available in Canberra.

Why have you chosen to represent this same-sex law reform campaign?

I am part of this campaign because I think the law changes are worth celebrating. I also believe we not only need to be aware of our new rights, but our new responsibilities as equal members of the Australian community. The law reforms are a hug step forward for lesbian and gay people and I am proud to be a part of celebrating that.

What sorts of same-sex discrimination have you as/ anyone you know experienced?

I’ve always felt lucky to have a supportive family, workplaces and community, and to have only lost a few friends to my coming-out. But every person in the LGBT community has experienced same-sex discrimination to some degree by virtue of the fact that these laws were there and needed to change. I was aware of this whenever I went to my accountant and work out what receipts belonged to who for claiming or Medicare or any number of other services and had to explain my relationship and hope for a good reaction.

How do you think these reforms will make a difference to your life, or to the lives of those close to you?

On a practical level, I’m having to learn about a new way of organising my finances; my partner and I will be able to file a joint tax return; we’ll be eligible for family status at Medicare; she has rights if something happens to me at work and it changes the way we can plan for retirement.

On another level, once the laws changed, I realised that I felt a great sense of equality, of citizenship, without realising I didn’t quite feel this way before, I suddenly felt like I belonged to my own country. I no longer feel lucky when I don’t experience discrimination but I do feel lucky that I have the right to expect not to be discriminated against.

Why do you think people should wear these 85 law reforms with pride?

These changes are hard won – even if critics argue that we still don’t have marriage rights, in these 85 law reforms, we are equal, and that should not be overlooked. We should wear them with pride because the fight has been won and because there will be a generation of lesbians and gays who will never have to fight for their rights, who will never know that kind of discrimination. That is something to be very proud of. That is something to celebrate.

Why do you think this is a huge step forward for Australia?

I’d like to think that this is a natural step forward, but given what it took to get here, and the equality we have gained, it is a huge step forward because now every Australian, regardless of their age, race, gender must respect me and my rights as a queer Australian.

What do you like about your T-Shirt design?

I like that Rob Concepcion has designed a T-Shirt that sums up what Australia represents to so many immigrants – letting through only good dreams of a new life, a good life. My partner, father and sister-in-law are all immigrants to this country and have all found that good life, and love, in their adopted homeland. With the change in immigration law, love is now a reason to welcome people to Australia, not exclude them.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

These law reforms make us all a little more ordinary, as individuals we no longer stand out as something different due to our sexuality, we can stand out as something different because we are a talented and vibrant part of the Australian community.

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