The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) has today voiced its support for marriage equality, reaffirming diversity and inclusion statements from current College policy:
We acknowledge that discrimination, bullying and harassment can have a severe and damaging impact on mental and physical health outcomes for affected individuals, their families and communities.
The College strongly endorses diversity and inclusion regardless of ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion and disability in all aspects of life, particularly in education, employment, medical care, sport, relationships and marriage.
ACRRM President Associate Professor Ruth Stewart said: “Our Diversity and Inclusion Statement is quite clear in stating that the College, through its training and development programs, works to improve health outcomes for all Australians.
“Based on this, we cannot abide by discrimination of the LGBTI+ communities or any other.
“That means recognising that marriage equality is uniquely entwined with health outcomes for people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex (LGBTI+).
“It’s entwined through the institutionalised discrimination contained with the Marriage Act, which explicitly excludes LGBTI+ Australians, discrimination that stems from a lack of recognition of same-sex couples.
“Without the legal safeguard that marriage provides, doctors must legally refer to the patient’s next immediate family member in emergency situations, rather than someone who is their life-partner or spouse.
“This places a burden on the attending doctor, whatever the situation.”
“In addition to legal issues, members of the LGBTI+ community often face marginalisation and discrimination that can leave them feeling isolated.
“Beyond Blue research shows that people who identify as LGBTI+ have the highest rates of suicidality of any population group in Australia, and with GPs often the first gateway to mental health services, it’s clear that our members and their patient’s will be impacted by the result of the postal vote,” said A/Prof Stewart.
The statement made by ACRRM today is not aimed at compelling any action by ACRRM fellows and members. We recognise the right of all College members to hold their own personal views on this matter and to exercise that right through their vote.