QLD "gay panic" law, crucial moment

I commented on this the other day. There has been further developments.

The Catholic Priest who started the campaign against this law (after someone was murdered in his church yard and the murderers got off with only manslaughter after using the "gay panic" law as a defence) has last Wed meet with the Queensland attorney general.  

I posted the link to his online petition in that other post (here is the link again) which is available to anyone in the world to sign online. This was in a recent article here from the ABC:

A recent State Government decision to scrap a planned tightening of the loophole has breathed new life into Father Kelly's campaign.

His online petition for change has now garnered more than 189,000 signatures, and attracted support from English comedian Stephen Fry and American actress Sophia Bush.

"Within a couple of days it's jumped tens of thousands of signatures. It's extraordinary," he told ABC News Online.

"What it says is that a broad sector of the local and world community sees that a law that even unintentionally has a negative effect on one particular group is not allowed.

"And whatever their beliefs, whatever their religion, they won't let that get in the way of protecting peoples' basic rights to safety."

Father Kelly says the law encourages a culture of hate. "What it's doing, without acknowledging it, is saying 'our society can understand that someone can lose it and lash out violently because they have such a revulsion to certain things that are deep in their prejudice, misunderstanding and fear'," he said.

Under the state's provocation law, defendants can argue they found a homosexual or heterosexual advance so offensive and frightening that they lost control and violently lashed out.

What it's doing is saying 'our society can understand that someone can lose it and lash out violently because they have such a revulsion to certain things that are deep in their prejudice, misunderstanding and fear'.

Father Kelly had a close encounter with the use of the defence four years ago, when Wayne Ruks was killed on the grounds of his church by two men.
Link

Since then I've just noticed there are now over 200,000 signatures on the petition.

I've also gotten this in an email from the priest Father Paul Kelly (fuck I never thought I'd be joining with a Catholic priest for change!):

On Wednesday, I met with the Attorney-General in Brisbane over the new government's support for the "gay panic" defence. I've been shocked, and disturbed by their response to killers walking free early using this archaic law.

But incredibly, the campaign is opening a window of opportunity. Campball Newman clearly doesn't want to be personally associated with this law -- and the government is suggesting they'll reconsider changing the law.

Now is our chance to finally rid Queensland of this archaic and discriminatory law. Can you help get Campbell Newman to stop stalling on ending this law by leaving a message with his office today? It only takes a couple of minutes, and is super easy.

Just dial 07 3224 4500. When the receptionist answers the phone, politely say:

"My name is ______. I know the Attorney-General is considering changes for the "gay panic" law after Father Paul's meeting on Wednesday. I want to urge Campbell Newman to weigh in and end this archaic law quickly. Killers shouldn't be able to get away with murder like this. Thanks." 

You could also say why you personally believe it's important to end the "gay panic" defence -- the more personal it is the more they'll take notice! 

It's important we speak out now -- to some people who call in they're saying there is no "gay panic" defence, when I know first hand how it was used as as a justification for killing someone in my churchyard.

There's a chance right now to ensure they listen to the legal experts, and the 198,000 people who have backed my petition. It's simply unacceptable for them to wait until it's "tested again" in another murder trial.

Please join me and other petition supporters in registering your concern with Campbell Newman's office. Call on 07 3224 4500.

Thanks for your help,

Fr. Paul Kelly

Catholic Priest, Maryborough

Dial away if you so desire.