Health, Law and Sexuality. Qui Cherche Trouve.

Abstract

This is the keynote address for the Bold Thinking Series event at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) Great Hall on 4 May 2017. The language of the oral delivery of this address has been retained. Amidst a rich historical context, the author explores the legal and moral complexities that lie at the intersection of law, sexuality and health. Drawing on his long-standing participation in many international bodies concerned with human rights, he discusses the many great wrongs perpetrated against LGTBQI communities both internationally and domestically, and highlights the challenges that countries around the world face to remove discrimination in laws, policies and culture. He emphasises by way of case examples, the physical, emotional and political harm that this has caused and will continue to cause if legislative and cultural change is not forthcoming. He concludes that equality before the law is a basic tenet of human rights, and that to the extent that Australia and other countries are not achieving equality, we must rise to the challenge and drive genuine change.