Writing a Letter to the Editor
Local politicians pay a lot of attention what is published in community newspapers, because they reflect what the community is concerned about. By taking the time to write a short letter once every couple of weeks, you can make same-sex marriage, anti-discrimination legislation and gender identity recognition the key topics for our communities in the lead up to the election. We know this works – Gay and Lesbian Equality committee members have kept a regular letters debate going in the Perth Voice for a few months.
Ashley's Story
Ashley is an ActNow Intern who wrote a letter to the editor about an issue that mattered to her. She wrote about her experience so that others could see how positive this simple action was.
KEY POINTS TO CONSIDER MAKING IN YOUR LETTER
Relationship Recognition
- Civil unions are not a replacement for marriage - it is a message that gay people aren't good enough for marriage to create a seperate institution just to avoid letting them marry
- Marriage is not a religious institution - it existed before and throughout many religions, and in Australia you can get married without having any religious beliefs at all, and regardless of your faith
- All the latest polls show Australians overwhelmingly in support of same-sex marriage, a minority of discriminatory people should not decide whether others' love is sufficient for marriage
- It is time our government listened to its people, instead of trading our rights for the votes of conservatives
Gender Identity Recognition
- Transgendered and Intersex people have been ignored in our society and by our governments
- The Human Right's Commission Report Sex Files showed that people of diverse sex or gender are discriminated against across a variety of societal institutions
- Our government should implement the recommendations of the Human Rights Commission, including:
- Marital status should not be a relevant consideration as to whether or not a person can request a change in legal sex.
- The definition of sex affirmation treatment should be broadened so that surgery is not the only criteria for a change in legal sex.
- The evidentiary requirements for the legal recognition of sex should be relaxed by reducing the quantity of medical evidence required and making greater allowance for people to self-identify their sex.
- The special needs of children and young people who wish to amend their documents and records should be considered.
- A person over the age of 18 years should be able to choose to have an unspecified sex noted on documents and records.
- Information on the process and criteria for the legal recognition of sex should be easily accessible and user-friendly.
- Documents of identity and processes required for the legal recognition of sex should not reveal personal information about a person’s past identity in relation to sex.
- Laws and processes for the legal recognition of sex should use empowering terminology.
- Where possible, sex or gender should be removed from government forms and documents.
Anti-Discrimination Legislation
- Australia doesn't have nationally consistent and overarching anti-discrimination legislation for sexuality & gender identity
- People who are discriminated against under Federal arena's have no avenue of complaint resolution, as without anti-discrimination the Human Rights Commission has no power to enforce resolutions
- Over 80% of Australians polled support anti-discrimination legislation
A Guide to Writing a Letter to the Editor
Letters that are intended for publication should usually be drafted more carefully. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
- Make one point (or at most two) in your letter or fax. State the point clearly, ideally in the first sentence.
- Make your letter timely. If you are not addressing a specific article, editorial or letter that recently appeared in the paper you are writing to, then try to tie the issue you want to write about to a recent event.
- Familiarize yourself with the coverage and editorial position of the paper to which you are writing. Refute or support specific statements, address relevant facts that are ignored, but do avoid blanket attacks on the media in general or the newspaper in particular.
- Check the letter specifications of the newspaper to which you are writing. Length and format requirements vary from paper to paper. (Generally, roughly two short paragraphs are ideal.) You also must include your name, signature, address and phone number.
- Look at the letters that appear in your paper. Is a certain type of letter usually printed? Support your facts. If the topic you address is controversial, consider sending documentation along with your letter. But don't overload the editors with too much info.
- Keep your letter brief. Type it whenever possible. Find others to write letters when possible. This will show that other individuals in the community are concerned about the issue. If your letter doesn't get published, perhaps someone else's on the same topic will.
- Monitor the paper for your letter. If your letter has not appeared within a week or two, follow up with a call to the editorial department of the newspaper.
- Write to different sections of the paper when appropriate. Sometimes the issue you want to address is relevant to the lifestyle, book review or other section of the paper. An increasing number of broadcast news programs (60 Minutes, All Things Considered, etc.) also solicit and broadcast "letters to the editor." Don't forget these outlets.
- Always sign your letters as an individual or representative of a community group.
Source: From FAIR's Media Activism Kit. Originally posted on the
FAIR web site.
