The Queensland Association for Healthy Communities is proud to work with PFLAG. We all see the need for LGBTI men and women to live in peace and health, free from discrimination of any kind. By working with our parents and friends, and supporting them as they deal with our sexuality, PFLAG plays an important role in making sure that we can live the best way we see fit. Their work in advocating for the end to discrimination against same sex couples was an important part of this, and we are now able to enjoy most of the rights that every Australian take for granted.

There’s still a lot of work to be done, and we will all achieve much more by working together.

Mark Morein
President, Queensland Association for Healthy Communities 

PFLAG Brisbane is one of Australia’s most successful and effective education and advocacy organisations for the human rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.

PFLAG Brisbane has supported many families to be more accepting of their gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender members. It has initiated a number of ground-breaking, general-community education programs including Longreach for Outreach and Homophobia in the Workplace. On top of this, PFLAG Brisbane is one of Australia’s most high profile advocates for GLBT human rights with initiatives such as a series of newspaper advertisements supporting the legal and financial entitlements of same-sex couples. Thanks to this leadership, PFLAG Brisbane is now seen across Australia as a trend-setter, not only for other PFLAG groups, but for the broader GLBT community on human rights generally.

I can think of no other organisation that has worked so consistently and effectively at so many levels to promote harmony between people of different sexualities and equity for sexual and gender minorities.

Yours sincerely,
Rodney Croome
Spokesperson, Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group / Australian Coalition for Equality

It is with pleasure that I write to support the nomination of Parents and Friends of Lesbian and Gays (PFLAG) and Ms Shelley Argent for a Human Rights Award.

I note that the theme this year is ‘Dignity and Social Justice for all of us’: There have been few, if any, organisations that have done as much to advance the cause of Lesbian and Gay people to be able to have access to the same basic human rights as those taken for granted in the heterosexual community as PFLAG. Ms Shelley Argent has been the inspiration and drive behind this organisation not only in Queensland but also at a national level.

As the Director of Equity in a large University in metropolitan Queensland, I have called on PFLAG to assist my Office with staff awareness-raising and particularly in value-adding to the University’s Ally program, a program that supports gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex students and staff on campus. Shelley and other PFLAG members have willingly given their time to address meetings of staff, to share their personal stories and to offer their assistance freely. They keep my Office informed of relevant events and freely provide material that might assist in our work.

PFLAG is invariably at any public event where they can further promote their cause. They consistently provide quality submissions to relevant reviews and unashamedly lobby politicians and other powerful groups and individuals in the community in pursuit of legislative and social equality for people of alternative sexuality and gender identity (LGBTI).

PFLAG has been active in developing resources for schools and working to ensure teachers understand the issues faced by young LGBTI people or those questioning their sexuality and/or gender identity.

PFLAG and its dynamic leader Shelley Argent have fulfilled an extremely important role in working to ensure that the human rights of Australians is inclusive of those who identify as other than heterosexual and have proved formidable allies of the gay and transgender communities. It would be a recognition of their contribution to making Australia a better society if they were to receive a Human Rights Award.

Yours sincerely,
Dr Ann Stewart
Director, The Equity Office, University of Queensland

I am the Principal Psychologist for Centre for Human Potential a gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender specialist psychology clinic. We have been operating over 15 years and see individuals, couples, employees in rehabilitation after a workplace psychological injury and clients in the medico-legal context.

We have had a long standing relationship with PFLAG and have a comprehensive understanding of how they operate, the work they do and the people involved.

Over the years I have developed a deep level of trust in the work they do and have seen evidence that they have made a transformational difference in many lives. I have presented and provided input to their conferences and parent’s support group, spoken at their conference and facilitated at their 2020 Summit. In particular the outcomes of the Summit were very significant and likely to make a real difference to the lives of LGBTI in our community and possibly even reduce the suicide rates.

I have also read articles and other written material from them including an online booklet which they provide at no cost which I have heard has also made a significant difference in parents dealing with the very complex issues of their children being gay, lesbian or bisexual or transgender.

I have worked closely with Shelley Argent and amazed at her determination, strength and tireless efforts to reduce dangerous levels of homophobia in society, and seen the relentless warm hearted support she has provided to many parents of LGBTI children.
I wholeheartedly nominate both PFLAG Brisbane and Shelley Argent for the HREOC Award. I don’t know of another more deserving individual or organisation.

Yours sincerely,
Paul Martin
Principal Psychologist, Centre for Human Potential

I am delighted to provide a reference in support of your nomination of Shelley Argent for a Human Rights Award. Shelley would be a very deserving recipient of this award for her tireless work in combating homophobia and campaigning for equal rights for lesbian and gay people.

Over the years that I have known Shelley, I have heard her speak movingly of her equal love for her children regardless of their different sexualities and her incredulity that they are unequal before the law because of their sexuality. From attending meetings and seminars with Shelley, I know her to be a very active campaigner who has given up countless hours of her time in working towards her goal of achieving a society in which gay and lesbian people are accorded equal respect and access to the same entitlements as their heterosexual friends, neighbours and family.

Shelley is very effective in mobilising community support, for example, in putting together advertisements in The Australian newspaper calling for equality in the lead up to the 2007 election. She is an excellent networker – I have been kept up to date by Shelley, along with many others, about her activities and various events of interest. She is fearless in her dealings with powerful sections of our community – from politicians to religious organisations to media bodies.

Her inclusion as a delegate to the 2020 Summit further demonstrates her effectiveness as a human rights campaigner and the high regard in which she is held.

Yours sincerely,
Yasmin Gunn
Anti-Discrimination Lawyer, Legal Aid Queensland

Shelley Argent is one of Australia’s most successful and effective educationalists, advocates and lobbyists for the human rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.

In her role as the co-ordinator of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays in Brisbane, Shelley has helped and supported many families to become more accepting of their GLBT members. She has also educated her fellow citizens to a greater acceptance of sexual and gender diversity through her community education efforts in schools and workplaces.

In her role as the National Spokesperson for PFLAG, Shelley has become one of Australia’s most high-profile GLBT human rights advocates and lobbyists. Her media appearances and her meetings with decision-makers are characterised by humanity and straight talking. Her role in national policy-setting was recognised through her selection to participate in the 2020 Summit in Canberra in 2008.

I can think of no Australian more qualified than Shelley Argent to represent the values and principles of human rights as we celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.


Yours sincerely,
Rodney Croome
Spokesperson, Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group / Australian Coalition for Equality