Victorian Liberal MP Targets Former AFL Coach Dani Laidley

starobserver.com.au:

Victorian Liberal MP Bev McArthur has targeted former AFL coach Dani Laidley, while slamming a state-funded program for men about gender equality and healthy masculinities. Trigger Warning: This story discusses anti-trans comments, which might be distressing to some readers.

For 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention call Lifeline on 13 11 14. For Australia-wide LGBTQI peer support call QLife on 1800 184 527 or webchat.Laidley, former North Melbourne AFL player and coach, had come out as trans in November 2020.

Earlier this year in an radio chat in the Triple M commentary box, Laidley had said that she had battled years of “fear, shame and embarrassment”, but now was “absolutely at peace” after coming out and being a role model for the transgender community.The Member for Western Victoria and Shadow Assistant Minister for Scrutiny of Government was objecting to Colac Otway Shire Council’s ‘Modelling Respect and Equality Program’.

The council is delivering the program in association with the Colac Secondary College and Jesuit Social Services. The council had last week called for participants that included “leaders in business, sport, community groups and education” who would “take their learning back into their workplaces, their clubs, their schools and their families to create a Colac Otway that’s safe and equal for everyone.”McArthur claimed it was a “social engineering project” and launched a political attack. “Here we go again.