Position
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) supports marriage equality and recognises the polarisation of communities and significant distress that a public vote on marriage equality has caused lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) RACGP members and patients.
RACGP Council strongly endorses equality and inclusion regardless of race or ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation, religion or disability in all aspects of life, in particular education, employment, medical care, relationships and certainly marriage.
Marriage equality is a human rights issue and the RACGP Council shares the concerns of the Australian National Mental Health Commission that the prolonged debate has heightened discrimination against LGBTIQ people.
The RACGP acknowledges that discrimination, bullying and harassment of LGBTIQ people has a severe, damaging impact on mental and physical health outcomes for affected individuals, their families and community.
While the RACGP recognises the absolute right of all RACGP members to hold and express their own personal views on the matter of marriage equality, they are urged to provide particular care and consideration to LGBTIQ patients during this trying period.
The RACGP is compiling further material to support members in providing care to their patients and communities who have experienced detrimental mental health impacts of the prolonged and unnecessary marriage equality debate.
On behalf of RACGP Council,
Dr Bastian Seidel
RACGP President