Fridae

With the new Queensland Government's controversial new anti-discrimination laws in place, same-sex and de-facto couples in the Australian state will now have access to the same rights as heterosexual married partners while transgendered individuals can change their birth certificates.

However after intense last-minute negotiations with church representatives, a provision to extend GLBT employment rights to cover gays teaching in church-run schools was dropped at the last minute to gain the support of opposition members of parliament. Churches in the state claimed they law would prevent them from practicing their religion.

Debate on the new Discrimination Law Amendment Bill provided deputy Opposition leader Vaughan Johnson an opportunity to apologise for homophobic comments he made three years ago. At that time, he told fellow politicians they would be "struck down by Jesus Christ" for supporting gay rights legislation.

The National Party member said he had a re-think since then and he was not proud of what he had said or thought in the past about gays and lesbians. He admitted it was probably borne out of ignorance of homosexual lifestyle. "Where I come from, it is not something we see every day."

The 55-year-old father of three grown children and grandfather of three told the paper that he doesn't know any homosexual men. But he said he had friends who told him they had relatives or colleagues who were gay.

While the gay rights activists are fairly pleased with the new bill, some saw red about Mr Johnson comment's about having a beer with a gay man. In a Sunday Mail report, he said that he would enjoy a beer with a gay man - as long as the man didn't discuss his homosexual lifestyle.

"I wouldn't want to talk about issues with him . . . what he did. I wouldn't want it shoved in my face," said the State Opposition Deputy Leader. "But, yeah, I guess I'd buy him a drink."