A year and a half ago, HRLA client Lyle Shelton won his case in the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal after two drag queens accused him of vilification in a blog post written in 2020.

While that victory was a watershed moment for free speech in Australia, an appeal was lodged soon after and the appeal hearing is set to take place from March 17.

The original complaints came about from Lyle’s writings and video appearances where he was critical of a “drag queen story hour” event scheduled for children at a Brisbane library in January, 2020.

The drag queens took Lyle to the Tribunal claiming discrimination and vilification but the Tribunal found in Lyle’s favour in August, 2023.

Now this once again comes to a head with the appeal hearing in two weeks’ time.

HRLA has assisted Lyle through this whole process, and we are steadfast in defending his freedom of speech.

However, this case is also an important and troubling illustration of how the process itself is the punishment.

It has been over five years since Lyle’s blogs and videos were released. It took three-and-a-half years for the initial complaint to be ruled on, and now another 18 months for the appeal.

The system allows for this process to be weaponised so that people like Lyle have this legal battle hanging over their lives for over half a decade.

Lyle has written about the upcoming hearing at his blog here.

He outlines some of the new evidence being brought and his determination to defend his rights. HRLA will be standing alongside Lyle and a win here will establish a landmark precedent that will help protect the rights and freedoms of future generations to speak the truth and live faithfully.

You can support HRLA as we assist Lyle here.