VIC GOVT’S GENDER ENDER

State denies funding video clip

THE State Government is behind a campaign to replace “he” and “her” with the gender-neutral pronouns “they” and “them”. Conservatives and a Christian lobby group have slammed the Andrews Government for allowing state resources to be used in the “They Day” campaign. The centrepiece of the campaign is a professionally shot mini-documentary featuring staff from multiple State Government departments advocating the use of gender-neutral terms “they” and “them”. The documentary is titled as produced “on behalf of Victorian Department of Health and Human Services Pride Network”. Australian Catholic University research fellow Kevin Donnelly said the video was “bizarre”. “This is just another example of how dominant political correctness is,” he said.

THE State Government is behind a campaign to replace “he” and “her” with gender neutral pronouns “they” and “them”.

Conservatives and a Christian lobby group have slammed the Andrews Government for using government resources on the “They Day” campaign” but it is supported by LGBTI groups.

The centrepiece of the campaign is a professionally-shot mini-documentary uploaded to YouTube featuring staff from multiple State Government departments advocating for the use of gender neutral “they” and “them”.

The documentary is titled as produced “on behalf of Victorian Department of Health and Human Services Pride Network”.

Conservative education commentator and Australian Catholic University research fellow Kevin Donnelly said the video was “bizarre”.

“This is just another example of how dominant political correctness is,” Dr Donnelly said. “Ninety-eight per cent of people self identify as either male or female. (Material like this) is only serving such a small percentage of the population.

“It’s more about political correctness than having any beneficial impact.”

The author of How Political Correctness is Destroying Australia said the video was a disgraceful waste of taxpayers’ money.

Geelong LGBTI groups said they are supportive of the They Day campaign.

Geelong Gender Group organiser Pauley Johnson said transphobia was behind those hitting out at the campaign.

“When we have come to a society that has tried to eradicate to trans and diverse people there hasn’t been language that’s adequately representative. There is a need for pronouns other than the feminine and masculine pronouns,” she said.

The DHHS video features public servants from departments including Education, Justice, Health, and Premier and Cabinet discussing gender identity and language.

Department worker Nicole Lord said in the video: “In Australia with English we can actually unlearn some of our poor behaviour and learn a new way of doing things.”

Her colleague Joh Neugebauer said: “You’re making a lot more people comfortable with your language by not going ‘he’ or ‘she’ or assuming based on looks.”

Health Minister Jill Hennessy and Mental Health and Equality Minister Martin Foley both ducked Geelong Advertiser questions.

Instead, a Department of Health and Human Services spokeswoman said: “The Pride Network did not receive government or departmental funding for this event or the as- sociated video, and it was not compulsory for staff to attend.”

It is understood the video was produced and edited by a Pride Network member on her own equipment, and filmed in a State Government office in Melbourne.

The Australian Christian Lobby hit out at the campaign as a waste of taxpayers’ money.

Victorian director Dan Flynn said the video was “gender-bending nonsense”.

“This is a shocking waste of departmental resources and time which can undoubtedly be put to better use,” Mr Flynn said.

“It’s tragic that the Victorian public service can be used as a vehicle to encourage radical gender theory within the workforce, silencing those who believe in male and female gender.”

Mr Flynn claimed the video was part of a broader ‘They Day’ campaign established in July within the Department of Health and Humans Services.

ACL claimed during ‘They Days’ staff wear stickers featuring their preferred gender pronoun and others are encouraged to refer to them by it.

Phone counselling for LGBTI people and their families and friends is available via QLife on 1800 184 527. Personal help can be accessed via Lifeline on 13 11 14.

I THINK USING THEY/THEM PRONOUNS IS A WAY YOU CAN HELP TO RESPECT THAT UNTIL SOMEONE HAS TOLD YOU (ABOUT THEIR GENDER), YOU’RE NOT REALLY SURE.” FRANKIE HIPKINS, (RIGHT) DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

IT’S TRAGIC THAT THE VICTORIAN PUBLIC SERVICE CAN BE USED AS A VEHICLE TO ENCOURAGE RADICAL GENDER THEORY WITHIN THE WORKFORCE, SILENCING THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN MALE AND FEMALE GENDER.” DAN FLYNN, AUSTRALIAN CHRISTIAN LOBBY VICTORIAN DIRECTOR

NINETY-EIGHT PER CENT OF PEOPLE SELF IDENTIFY AS EITHER MALE OR FEMALE. (MATERIAL LIKE THIS) IS ONLY SERVING SUCH A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION.” DR KEVIN DONNELLY, CONSERVATIVE EDUCATION COMMENTATOR

FOR A WORLD AND CULTURE THAT HASN’T REALLY DONE A GOOD JOB OF HAVING ANYTHING OTHER THAN HIGHLY GENDERED PRONOUNS, USING THEY IS A REALLY GOOD OPTION. I FEEL THE WAY IN WHICH PEOPLE ARE USING IT OPENS UP THE WORD AND THE LANGUAGE.” JACK METCALFE, DEPARTMENT OF PREMIER AND CABINET (LEFT)

YOU CAN TAKE AGENCY OVER HOW YOU WANT TO BE IDENTIFIED. YOU GET TO CHOOSE HOW YOU’RE DEFINED AND YOU’RE NOT RESTRICTED BY WHAT KIND OF LABEL SOCIETY PUTS ON YOU.” NAOMI SHIMODA, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING