Comments for Star Observer

Comment on Moira Deeming Dumped By Victorian Liberals by E

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 00:07:04 +0000

Good riddance to her. Unfortunately, she will probably jump ship to One Nation, which is polling well everywhere. The rise of One Nation is alarming and needs to be resisted.
Sadly there will never be justice for the day when Deeming hosted her rally and neo-Nazis threatened the lives of trans women and vilified them further. Existing laws were broken that day, police refused to enforce them, and queer leaders declined to seek justice. To make matters worse, the mainstream media erased the victimisation of trans women, barely mentioning them at all, and only talking about the generic offensiveness of the Nazi salute. A slap in the face to trans women.
We can only hope that authorities will now proactively enforce the law where vilification against queer people is encountered, now that we have long-sought, purpose-made protections. We can only hope queer leaders are equally proactive.
This matter sits at the intersection of a related one: the weaponisation of hate speech laws in NSW and QLD to silence pro-Palestinians supporters. Legitimate free speech is being censored and punished. Just yesterday a pro-Palestinian artist in QLD was contacted by police and had to remove artworks from his website which were literally commentaries on this very censorship! Scary. Genuine hate speech should be punished – while good faith opinions about land disputes, statehood, sovereignty, military violence, and legal and morally culpability, should be protected from censorship- just as we are free to speak about any other matter in public life.

Comment on The Divide Between Masc And Butch: Why Lesbians Are Choosing One Label Over The Other by Cara

Cara — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 03:34:09 +0000

I have a theory about this as someone who doesnt mind being called masc but I’m not butch. For me butch feels like an identity and masc feels like an adjective and therefore gives more breathing room to slide around with presentation and be more broad. That’s how I feel about it anyway.

Comment on EXPLAINER: Laws Protecting LGBTQIA+ People Exist Around Australia – SA Lags Behind by Jas

Jas — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 01:19:04 +0000

The ALP hates you as much as PHON they just hide it. Expect nothing, you will just be disappointed.

Comment on Can Your Fingers Tell If You’re Queer? Science Says They Might by Dan Warby

Dan Warby — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 10:49:59 +0000

So let me get this straight [intended pun] – a meta-analysis of 51 studies and 200,000 people produced a finding that amounts to “there are small statistical correlations at population level between finger length ratios and sexual orientation” and someone decided the best use of that information was a clickbait article inviting people to stare at their hands?

What is the actual point of this?

Because it’s not informing anyone. The differences are fractions of millimetres across group averages. You cannot look at your own hands and learn anything about yourself from this. The article knows it, too – buries the “this isn’t a diagnostic test” bit right at the bottom, well after the damage is done. After the headline’s already done its job of making queer people into a curiosity again. A fun little science trick. Look at your fingers! Are you gay? We’ve been looking at our fingers since the 90s.

And the tone – fuck, the tone. “Before the playground hand comparison contests make a comeback.” Mate, for a lot of queer people those playground moments weren’t cute. They were kids looking for ways to identify and single out the different ones. But sure, let’s make it breezy.

This is what happens when you strip context out of research and feed it through the content mill. You get something that feels progressive because it mentions bisexuality, but is actually just repackaging queer existence as a novelty.

Something to click on between your horoscope and a listicle about avocados.
The research itself is fine – prenatal hormone exposure is a legitimate area of study. But this article isn’t for people who care about developmental biology. It’s for engagement metrics. And queer people get to be the content.

Comment on Australian Christian Lobby Call On NSW Gov To Reject All-Gender Toilets by Jesse South

Jesse South — Sat, 14 Mar 2026 02:35:44 +0000

This makes no sense. There are NO laws in Australia, or NSW, that mandate the existence of single sex toilets, at all. A man or woman can freely enter the other toilet without consequence, legally. So the existence of all gender toilets is both redundant and moot, the ACL are fools that don’t know the law.

Comment on Brisbane Drag Community Mourns The Passing Of DJ Merlin by Michael Reid

Michael Reid — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 22:59:14 +0000

Glenn was a Dear Friend of mine. I have known, long before his esteemed seemingly eternal residency as DJ MERLIN at Sporties. I am not a confident social person, but can enjoy Sporties, as only nightclub I would go out to. It is only one (I know of) that caters to friends catching up, without excessive (often bloody awful) thumping music you have to continually shout over! He was another gay man I befriended as a life long KISS fan. Right from the “Unmasked” era we aren’t supposed to love too much, but love it without question WE DID! & STILL DO. I’ll be compiling a suitable private & personal KISS tribute in his honour. Fairly promptly 9 tributes sounded off with the divine “Magic Touch” that is the Dynasty” album, spun in his entire honour Eternal RIP GLENN. Loving IT LOUD, EVERY DAY now with Ace Frehley & Eric Carr, in that free plain where only joy & pleasantries are effortlessly exchanged & on open display.

Comment on Alex Greenwich Supports Heritage Nomination For Gay Sanctuary Kings Beach by Rohan Anderson

Rohan Anderson — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 08:15:35 +0000

Great article. Thanks Patrick Lenton. One of these days the NSW government will officially recognize the 92 years of queer culture and heritage at Kings Beach in an official high level government document. Hopefully it’s sooner rather than later so there are no more attempts to dislodge our community and its beach culture from this rare historically safe space in regional NSW. If you are an LGBTIQ Kings Beach user interested in helping to preserve the queer heritage and cultural value of Kings Beach in Byron Bay, we would love you to tell us why the place is valuable to our LGBTIQ community. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeb7_xwMrqV0P1p6obuveQIhe65cSbssULb8yVuOZZPAuI9zA/viewform?fbclid=IwdGRjcAQfU7dleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeCSLcGMCBBO_fKtILUhlWpSzs-5hjhKnLpYw8o80iUldqefJK1dPQZEv2Ro4_aem_MI5u1829mby8MWFQ2FP0vg We would also love you to join our facebook page if you are a queer user of Kings Beach. https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Coe39m9Yz/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Comment on A SA Liberal Candidate Says Homosexuality Can Open Up “Demonic Realms” by P

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 23:05:50 +0000

Abhorrent stuff – noting Victoria isn’t considering new laws, they already passed strong anti-vilification laws last year.

Comment on A Former US Volleyball Player Is Super Mad That She Accidentally Made Friends With A Trans Woman by Persephone

Persephone — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 18:41:34 +0000

I am 99% certain that Brooke Slusser knew her teammate/roommate was trans from the very beginning. As the author pointed out, Brooke only hopped on the anti-trans train after Reduxx forcibly outed her teammate. Now Brooke’s trying to get someone of that easy transphobia grifter money. Shame on you, Brooke!

Comment on Carla From Bankstown Slams ‘Misogynistic, Homophobic’ MAFS Groom Tyson Gordon by Gabriel Mcewan Waldron

Gabriel Mcewan Waldron — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 09:46:32 +0000

A “christian” should NOT even be on MAFS, the show is against the laws of Love, and Frankly Tyson is a THROW BACK… a sovereign Citizen isn’t as freakish as the Man who wants to DOMINATE his wife….Ultra Right wing is too good for him….

Comment on ‘Afterglow’: A Glossy, Provocative Portrait Of Messy Modern Love by Michael Reid

Michael Reid — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 00:21:56 +0000

PLEASE Bring this “Afterglow” nationwide with THIS cast of 3 talented yummy gentlemen to divert my attention for few essential hours. Not to be missed Australia wide by the sounds like to me!!!

Comment on “The Worst Part Was The Shame”: What Happened After Jack Was Lured Into A Gay Hate Crime Ambush Off Grindr by Robert McCormick

Robert McCormick — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 04:22:20 +0000

Maybe I missed it in this report, but when reports of thse gay hate crimes by teenagers and radicalised Islamist young men eventually surfaced in the broader media we were told that despite being found Guilty not one of these males got a prison sentence and a criminal record was Not palced upon any of them! They were simply put on a Good Behaviour Bond for a relatively short time and allowed to go home.. It would appear that members of the Judiciary don’t think these Crimes Against Humanity are serious and, though they would vehemently deny it, are as homophobic as the perpetrators. Were any of these criminals holders of Dual Citizenship? If they were why were they not deported? I don’t care what age these males were/are, they committed Crimes of Hate and should all be held Fully Responsible, sent to prison (it should also be noted that not one Police Force has appealed these non-sentences imposed by the Judiciary as being manifestly inappropriate. Are they also every bit as homophobic as the Juduciary has proved itself to be?)
After having served the Maximum Prison Sentence any with Dual Citizenship should immediately be deported and if that means being sent back to a war-torn country so be it!

Comment on “The Worst Part Was The Shame”: What Happened After Jack Was Lured Into A Gay Hate Crime Ambush Off Grindr by Parkii

Parkii — Sat, 07 Mar 2026 04:39:31 +0000

Actually, you’ll find that Grindr does in fact have proper face recognition and every profile no matter how long you’ve had it has to go through the facial recognition to be able to continue using the app at all. It’s very recent and new, but definitely came in to play at least in NSW prior to 2 March 2026, so I would think that fact checking of details needs to be a bit more thorough.

This however does not in anyway change how horrific these attacks are, and the lasting affect they have both physically, emotionally and mentally on victims as well as the vicarious trauma felt by their family, colleagues and friends etc…

Huge respect to Jack for having the courage to step up and make the statement and shine a light on these hideous acts of pure hate.

Comment on OPINION – Hey, Corporations Pulling Out of Pride Events: You’re All Cowards by Robert McCormick

Robert McCormick — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 00:17:41 +0000

OK! Soyou have named a very few, mostly tech organisations which have withdrawn their support for many GLBTIQA+ events which gives us and our Communities the chance to boycott them and close any accounts we may have with them. BIT and it is a Very Big BUT, you have not named any others. Why not? Think on this. Almost the entire Grocery Sector in Australia, and, indeed, around the world us controlled by a relatively small number of Multinational corporations such as the massive US Owned Mendelez which owns Oreos, Heinz, Watties, Cadbury Schweppes, Toblerone to mention but a few of their products. UK owned Unilever: Omo, Continental, Hellmans etc., Reckitt Benkisker: Mortein, Pine-o-clean etc.. Swiss owned Nestle owns Uncle Toby’s, Allens Sweets, Kit-Kat etc..
Have any of these giant corporations stopped supporting us? If they have then Please Name them so that we can Punish them by refusing to buy any or their products for as you said in your report they all love the super-strong Pink Dollar!
I our house we placed a boycott on US Owned from the day Trump began his anti-DEI campaign, it really hasn’tmade things harder we just buy other companies products.

Comment on OPINION – Hey, Corporations Pulling Out of Pride Events: You’re All Cowards by E

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 06:05:12 +0000

Here, here! And well done on swearing. There are too many who seek to punish anger. The author is completely right. Corporations are behaving cowardly in the face of Trump. There are several examples in the US which have nothing to do with queer rights. She also touches on a topic which we should all give more thought to: the participation of parties, corporations and government agencies in Pride events. I recently went to Midsumma Carnival in Melbourne. First time in many years. I had to ward off a panic attack when I walked past various marquees: the Liberal party; Labor party; the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman; IBAC (the anti-corruption commission); and others. I’ve had dealings with all these agencies and more. They simply dismiss and gaslight. They are corrupt. The political parties mentioned have a shameful record on queer rights; and yes, that includes Labor, state and federal. As for corporations, I don’t want to see them there. Pride events are not a LinkedIn conference. Queer people are individual human beings. We are not simply ‘employees’. Our queerness is inherent, and not at the good grace of employers. We have what we have thanks to ourselves - not to business or government. Get the major parties, government agencies, and corporations out of Pride events! Community groups only.

Comment on Jewish LGBTQIA+ Group Dayenu Withdraw From Mardi Gras Parade by Jasper Samuelson

Jasper Samuelson — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 13:03:33 +0000

As a gay group, representing Jewish Australians, they should feel absolutely safe to march. However, Dayenu is not simply about their gay, Jewish intersectionality. They are purposefully conflating their Jewish identity with that of Israel and its actions and claiming victimhood in the process. They are guilty of trying to pinkwash genocide and referring to the protests against genocide as a “riot at the town hall” is so utterly disingenuous and low-key racist that they discredit themselves entirely.
I would welcome any LGBTQIA+ Jewish Australians marching alongside others in a Pride protest celebrating our shared humanity, but Dayenu can take their fake victimhood card and maybe bury it along with their consciences and the bodies of the victims of the Israeli violence that they seem determined to pin their flag to.
They should not be missed.
Jews welcome. Zionists not welcome. Simple.

Comment on Tim Wilson Takes On Treasury Portfolio In New Liberal Shadow Cabinet by Carl

Carl — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 11:09:31 +0000

It’s a pity that the “cost of living crisis” is not a uniquely Australian crisis and definitely not caused by the current government…

The “cost of living crisis” is affecting almost every country on the planet (based on various news local and overseas new sites I have visited over the last five years or so).

If the “cost of living crisis” is “uniquely Australian” then one needs to remember that

1) this “crisis” started under his party’s watch when inflation started sky-rocketing;

2) reducing inflation, once it starts, is a difficult and lengthy process if one is to ensure minimal damage to the economy

Comment on Referee Who Went Viral After Proposing To His Boyfriend Has Been Attacked For A Second Time by Michael Reid

Michael Reid — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 22:20:17 +0000

Is the shock of this, that it is in Germany, not the USA, not Russia, Malaysia, Indonesia, or the middle east somewhere. No neighbours could have been bothered to keep an eye out for him? At least piss them off! So a homophonic assault on someone’s own doorstep!!! Doesn’t shame their neighbourhood!! SHAME!!!!! on the police for faking and / or failing to provide the surveillance & protection they ultimately didn’t provide!!

Comment on Jewish LGBTQIA+ Group Dayenu Withdraw From Mardi Gras Parade by Antonio

Antonio — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 05:40:02 +0000

It’s a sad day when gay groups cannot march in the Mardi Gras parade fearing violence from other GLBTIQ+ groups.

I would urge that the activist rant from Manu Lapita be ignored as it appears to me to be a hateful rant that singles out a gay group in Australia who have every right to feel safe marching in this parade.

Comment on What Have We Lost With 2026’s Mardi Gras Parade After Party Cancellation? by Lexie Bradfield

Lexie Bradfield — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 05:26:22 +0000

I know times don’t stand still and it’s up to us to keep up which is not easy in the current landscape.
I just wish that some of the wisdom offered up in terms of what works and what doesn’t was taken a lot more serious. Once Sleaze was removed which was the financial buffer for MG This left a rather large financial void.
Having said that the amount of money Sydney generated was second to none. This should of always been at the top of the negotiating table. Securing venues with a proven track record makes for a more powerful prese tation. Incorporating critical positives point form ex. Stagnating the venues closing times was and is one such point.
As far as headline acts go, given that the act was suppose to be a secret it’s not going to generate additional ticket sales. So the attendance numbers are dwindling Dwindle with it Not dwindle of the map. It’s way to historical to be just pushed aside.
Reduce the number of venue’s Negotiate better costs involved Put relevant DJ’S on the bill , don’t get as much lighting , Tender out specifics , There’s a host of areas where funds can be saved.. In the early days performers would just pop up , Drag queens , fire dancers , Sylvester (had to include him)
Mesmerising dancers all would just appear and do whatever to whatever music was playing. Limiting the bar was a big negative, I would be more than willing to throw a plethora of ideas to keep this part of our history alive.