Most Australians probably think that now we have marriage equality, LGBTI people's rights are fully respected. Unfortunately, that's not the case.

Discrimination against LGBTI people causes staggeringly high rates of mental illness, self-harm and suicide, particularly for young people in our schools. ( AAP: Mal Fairclough )

Many of the remaining areas of discrimination don't have the same level of visibility as marriage equality — particularly issues affecting trans, gender diverse and intersex people — but that doesn't make them any less important.

Following the resounding Yes vote for marriage equality just six months ago, we now have a real window of opportunity for Australia to move forward. We can and should ensure that LGBTI people are treated fairly, and with dignity and respect, under all of our laws.

Today is the International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia.

It is a day to recognise the discrimination and stigma that lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex people face in our society, and across the world.

Bullying and discrimination against LGBTI people causes staggeringly high rates of mental illness, self-harm and suicide, particularly for LGBTI young people in our schools.

Today is a day to take a stand against all violence, discrimination and harassment on the basis of a person's sexual orientation, gender identity or sex characteristics.

Australia should be a global leader on LGBTI rights

It is also a reminder to look beyond our borders. Almost one in three countries still criminalise homosexuality, and in many parts of the world LGBTI people who are victims of hate crime cannot go to the police for protection from harm.

This article contains content that is not yet available here.

Australia now holds a seat on the UN Human Rights Council, the UN body responsible for protecting the rights and dignity of people all over the world. The Australian Government should use its time on the Council to be a global leader and outspoken voice against the horrific violence and discrimination which LGBTI people face worldwide.

Fittingly, this year's theme for the International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia is Alliances for Solidarity.

Australia would not have marriage equality without support from our allies. People who voted Yes so someone they cared about could marry the person they love, or because they believed that we should all be treated equally under law.

The Yes result showed us what we already know. We are more powerful when we band together.

Now is the time to do so again. There are so many opportunities to make our laws fairer and better protect the human rights of LGBTI people.

Yet there is a real risk of backlash against LGBTI people and the idea that we are entitled to equal rights in the aftermath of last year's postal survey.

Whatever the outcome of the Religious Freedoms Review, we should be moving forward with protecting human rights in this country, not backwards. ( AAP: David Moir )

Groups that take taxpayer money cannot discriminate

Tomorrow, the Prime Minister will receive the final report from the Religious Freedom Review, after almost six months of submissions, hearings and deliberation.

This article contains content that is not yet available here.

LGBTI groups have called for an end to permanent exemptions from discrimination enjoyed by religious organisations, particularly in government funded service delivery, employment and schools.

They argue that any organisation that receives a single cent of taxpayer money shouldn't have a licence to discriminate against LGBTI people, the same way that this isn't accepted because of a person's race or disability.

A recent poll found that four in five Australians don't support existing laws that allow religious schools to fire staff and expel students based on their sexuality.

Some faith groups have advocated for a Religious Freedoms Act for greater licence for people of faith to refuse to employ staff or provide goods and services to others based on their religious beliefs. For example, a baker refusing to bake a wedding cake for a same-sex couple or a religious school being able to fire a gay teacher.

Not only would this wind back existing discrimination protections for LGBTI people; it would also extend situations where discrimination is allowed.

Whatever the outcome of the Religious Freedoms Review, we should be moving forward with protecting human rights in this country, not backwards.

The Religious Freedoms Review should not be an opportunity for the No campaign to re-litigate hostile amendments already rejected by Parliament last year on that historic day.

It will not be true marriage equality if our rights to equal treatment under our laws are stripped away in its wake.

Lee Carnie is a lawyer with the Human Rights Law Centre