In this episode:
- New hate speech laws leave LGBTQIA+ Australians out — submissions close today
- Twice-yearly HIV prevention injection registered — but not available yet
- João Lucas Reis da Silva becomes first openly gay man at the Australian Open
- Golden Globes: Emilia Pérez, Jodie Foster, Baby Reindeer win big for queer stories
- Sydney Festival’s 50th anniversary kicks off with queer programming
Transcript
Full transcript for accessibility and search.
Click to expand Transcript
Hi, I’m Louise Poole, and this is the Rainbow Briefing for Thursday the 15th of January. Your daily LGBTQIA+ news catchup. Recorded and produced on Yugambeh and Yuggera land.
New hate speech laws are being rushed through parliament — and LGBTQIA+ Australians have been left out.
The draft Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill was released on Tuesday — with public submissions due by Thursday afternoon. That’s today. Three days for consultation on a 144-page bill.
The legislation was drafted in response to the Bondi terror attack last month. It creates new offences for promoting or inciting hatred — but only based on race, colour, or national or ethnic origin.
LGBTQIA+ people aren’t covered.
Equality Australia is among those pushing back. Legal Director Heather Corkhill said hatred in any form — whether racial, religious, or targeting LGBTIQ+ people or people with a disability — has no place in our society. The government should be stopping all hate before it turns violent, she said — not creating tiers of protection.
LGBTQIA+ and Jewish community group Aleph Melbourne agrees. Spokesperson Michael Barnett says it makes no sense that half his identity is protected from hate and the other half isn’t. The same ideology driving attacks on Jewish communities, he said, is driving attacks on LGBTQIA+ people.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has hedged — saying the government may look at broader hate speech protections, but only after this bill passes.
Some MPs want action now. Independent MP Allegra Spender — whose Bondi electorate has a large LGBTQ+ population — plans to move amendments to extend the bill before it’s debated next week.
A twice-yearly injection that reduced HIV infections by 96 percent in clinical trials has been registered in Australia.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration approved lenacapavir this week — the second long-acting PrEP option to be registered here. It’s a potential game-changer for people who find daily pills hard to access, stigmatising, or difficult to maintain — especially in rural and remote communities.
But neither long-acting option is available yet. Health Equity Matters Acting CEO James Gray says PBS subsidy is critical to make sure these options actually reach the people who need them.
Australia has committed to virtually eliminating HIV by 2030. Long-acting prevention could be key to getting there — but only if it’s affordable.
Brazilian tennis player João Lucas Reis da Silva has made history at Melbourne Park — becoming the first openly gay man to compete at the Australian Open.
The 25-year-old played his first round qualifying match on Monday — losing to Portugal’s Henrique Rocha in straight sets. But the milestone stands.
Reis da Silva came out publicly in late 2024 — becoming the first active male professional tennis player to do so.
Since then, he’s climbed more than 200 places in the rankings — from outside the top 400 to a career high of 187.
He told reporters he doesn’t think he’s the only gay player on tour — just the only one who’s open about it.
If you missed the Golden Globes earlier this week — it was a big night for queer stories. Emilia Pérez — a musical about a cartel boss who transitions — took home four awards, including Best Motion Picture Musical or Comedy. Its star Karla Sofía Gascón became the first trans actress nominated for a leading role — and Zoë Saldaña won Best Supporting Actress for the same film.
Out lesbian Jodie Foster won Best Actress in a Limited Series for True Detective.
Baby Reindeer — whose lead character dates a trans woman — won Best Limited Series.
And Hacks, with its bisexual lead, continued its winning streak with Best TV Comedy.
Sydney Festival is in full swing — celebrating its 50th anniversary with a stack of queer programming.
Opening tonight at Carriageworks is ANITO — a queered Filipino ghost story from artist Justin Talplacido Shoulder.
Also running — queer disabled artist Dan Daw in EXXY, Travis Alabanza’s acclaimed BURGERZ, and Death By PowerPoint — where queer collectives take over a working funeral home.
Sydney Festival runs until January 25th.
That’s the Rainbow Briefing for Thursday the 15th of January. This is independent queer community media, and your support is crucial to its success. Share the bulletin, tell your community, and if you’ve got news to share, head to rainbowbriefing.com.au.
Key stories in this briefing:
Federal hate speech bill excludes LGBTQIA+ Australians — The draft Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill creates new offences for promoting hatred based on race, colour, or national origin — but does not cover LGBTQIA+ people or people with disability. Public consultation was limited to three days on the 144-page bill.
Long-acting HIV PrEP registered in Australia — The TGA has approved lenacapavir, a twice-yearly injection that reduced HIV infections by 96% in clinical trials. It is the second long-acting PrEP option registered in Australia, though neither is yet available or PBS-subsidised.
First openly gay man competes at Australian Open — Brazilian tennis player João Lucas Reis da Silva became the first openly gay man to compete at the Australian Open, playing in first-round qualifying. He came out publicly in late 2024 and has since climbed more than 200 places in the rankings.
Queer stories dominate Golden Globes — Emilia Pérez won four Golden Globes including Best Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, with Karla Sofía Gascón becoming the first trans actress nominated for a leading role. Jodie Foster won Best Actress in a Limited Series, and Hacks continued its winning streak.
Sydney Festival queer programming — Sydney Festival’s 50th anniversary program includes ANITO, a queered Filipino ghost story; EXXY by queer disabled artist Dan Daw; Travis Alabanza’s BURGERZ; and Death By PowerPoint in a working funeral home.