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# Australia appoints anti-LGBTQ+ senator as assistant women’s minister
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/australia-appoints-anti-lgbtq-senator-as-assistant-womens-minister/
- Published: 2021-03-31T10:30:56.000Z
- Updated: 2021-03-31T08:40:01.000Z
- Description: Amanda Stoker, known for her anti-LGBTQ+ views, is Australia’s new assistant women’s minister.
- Author: Rachel Badham
- Tags: News, Politics, Australia, LGBTQ, LGBTQ+ rights, Trans Rights, Transgender, Women's Rights

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/amanda-stoker-600-400.jpg)

Australian prime minister **Scott Morrison** announced **Queensland** senator **Amanda Stoker** as the country’s new assistant women’s minister despite her questionable views on the LGBTQ+ community, with *[SBS News](https://www.sbs.com.au/news/critics-concerned-by-amanda-stoker-s-derogatory-views-on-transgender-issues-as-she-moves-into-women-s-portfolio?ref=scenemag.co.uk)* reporting that activists are raising concern over her appointment. Stokers official website promotes a petition titled ‘stand up to the transgender agenda’, and she is known for opposing a national ban on conversion therapy.

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/amanda-stoker-australia-600-400.jpg)

She published a controversial piece in the *[Financial Review](https://www.afr.com/opinion/religious-freedom-is-an-equal-right-to-freedom-of-sexuality-20181218-h198p?ref=scenemag.co.uk)* in 2018 where she suggested that being LGBTQ+ is a *“lifestyle”*, and said religious schools should not be required to *“affirm all”.* A handful of Australian LGBTQ+ advocates have have spoken out against her appointment, with trans activist **Sally Goldner** saying: *“It is obviously concerning given that she’s made some pretty derogatory and emotive comments about transgender people before which are not helpful.”*

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/australia-lgbt-pride-rainbow-flag-600-400.jpg)

Stoker is also known to be anti-abortion, with **Barbara Baird**, from the **South Australian Action Abortion Coalition**, saying that *“those views, while she has the right to hold them, are really inconsistent with occupying the position as Assistant Minister for Women in the federal government.”* A spokesperson for Stoker said she is committed to serving women from *“all walks of life”,* but many remain skeptical.