New research shows that LGBTIQ Australians feel the current social situation, with the ongoing religious freedom debates, is worse now than during the 2017 same-sex marriage debate.

A survey conducted by LGBTIQ advocacy group, just.equal shows that LGBTIQ Australians and their allies feel the current religious discrimination and transgender debates are “payback” for marriage equality. However, the survey also indicates that this is only one reason that LGBTIQ Australians feel under attack.

“It is an indictment on contemporary Australian politics that a significant part of the population feels public policy is motivated by revenge against them,” just.equal spokesperson Rodney Croome said in a press release.

The survey, conducted in September, found that over 80 per cent of the 4500 participants currently feel worse now than they did during the marriage equality postal survey. Other key findings in the survey found that, nearly 71 per cent of LGBTIQ people believe that the aim of religious freedom advocates is to take away the rights of LGBTIQ people, with almost 98 per cent of respondents agreeing that religious organisations should not be allowed to discriminate on the grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity.

“The [Religious Discrimination] Bill is designed to protect those who don’t need it by those who aren’t being attacked,” said one participant in the survey.

Participants have also expressed concern that the current religious freedom debates are worsening the situation for LGBTIQ teachers and students, while LGBTIQ parents were concerned about their children being targets of continued prejudice. Read more via Star Observer