In an Australian first, Greens LGBTIQA+ spokesperson and Member for Brisbane Stephen Bates has launched an OnlyFans.
In 2022, Bates made a splash with his Grindr campaign - "You always come first with the Greens" - and this election, he's continuing to speak to voters where they are with his OnlyFans. Recent statistics show OnlyFans is visited over 28 million times per month by Australia.
Bates announced today with his first OnlyFans video on the platform, the Greens' plan to make PrEP and PEP prescriptions free for anyone with a script.
PrEP and PEP significantly reduce the risk of HIV transmission. Nearly 100,000 Australians use it to protect themselves and others. While PrEP and PEP have been on the PBS since 2018, the growing gap payment means users are out of pocket hundreds of dollars a year.
Prevention and early intervention saves our healthcare system money in the long run. This announcement goes hand in hand with the Green's transformative election policy to make contraceptives free, removing the financial barrier to sexual healthcare.
The announcement comes on the back of the Greens presenting their plan for tackling LGBTIQA+ discrimination at Equality Australia's Rainbow Votes Forum in Surry Hills last night. The full plan includes appointing an LGBTIQA+ Human Rights Commissioner to be a watchdog for the LGBTIQA+ community who still face discrimination at work, in education, in healthcare and in public life.
As stated by Stephen Bates, Greens LGBTIQA+ spokesperson
While PrEP is on the PBS, the gap payment can add up to hundreds of dollars a year.
In a cost of living crisis, that's just too much. You shouldn't have to pay a fortune to be sexually responsible.
Ending HIV is too important to fly under the radar. I campaign on OnlyFans and Grindr because it gets attention. Sometimes you have to make a splash to make people pay attention to the things that matter.
As stated by Luc Velez, Greens candidate for Sydney
Queer people still face discrimination every day. Our community has higher rates of homelessness and mental ill health, and faces systemic barriers to our safety, workplace rights and access to services.
As we are seeing the right lean into queerphobia and fearmonger about trans bodies and healthcare, a dedicated LGBTIQA+ human rights commissioner will ensure there are always the resources and expertise to defend our human rights.
