About this site

The Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group is a community-based organisation campaigning for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender human rights in Tasmania.

The TGLRG led the successful 1988-1997 campaign for gay law reform in Tasmania, as well as subsequent campaigns for state anti-discrimination and same-sex relationship laws.

For more about these historic campaigns visit our archives.

Its ongoing activities include parliamentary lobbying, media liaison, community education and direct action. It has a commitment to visibility and community empowerment.

The Group continues to campaign for LGBT law and policy reform in Tasmania and nationally.

To find out more about what we're up to read on...

Schools bully victims urged to come forward / Bullying inquiry welcomed

This media release was issued by the TGLRG on 2.6.09.

Gay activists have urged Tasmanian students suffering homophobic bullying to report their experiences to the Anti-Discrimination Commission.

The call comes in the wake of confirmation from Tasmanian Anti-Discrimination Commissioner, Sarah Bolt, that school bullying is illegal under the state's anti-bias laws and perpetrators will face "legal ramifications".

Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said that homophobic bullying is one of the most pervasive and destructive forms of harassment in schools.

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Gay blood donation campaigner vows to continue fight / Tribunal decision 'disappointing' but 'step in right direction' / Call on Red cross to conduct gay blood donor trial

This media release was issued by the TGLRG in 27.5.09.

"This was a knife-edge decision in which the Tribunal erred on the side of caution, but given how much of my case it agreed with, I am confident the next time this matter goes to court the outcome will be a new policy."
- Michael Cain

Gay blood donation campaigner, Michael Cain, says he will not give up his fight for gay men who have safe sex to give blood, despite today's decision by the Tasmanian Anti-Discrimination Tribunal upholding the current blanket gay blood ban, and has called on the Red Cross to conduct a trial of gay blood donation to determine its safety.

The Tribunal dismissed Mr Cain's claim of discrimination on the basis that the Red Cross has a legal obligation to ban gay donors and because, in the absence of conclusive data on the risk associated with low-risk gay sex, the Red Cross must act on "the worst case scenario".

Mr Cain said the Tribunal upheld almost all of his arguments for reform.

"I am pleased the Tribunal has agreed with my fundamental claim that their are monogamous, safe, gay men who have a lower HIV risk than some of the straight people who can currently give blood", Mr Cain said.

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More forums on same-sex couples and the law

Here are details on up-coming community and Centrelink forums on same-sex couple entitlements.

Following on from the success of recent forums in Hobart and Launceston on same-sex couple rights and entitlements, the Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group and the Hobart Community Legal Service have scheduled four more forums in regional and rural centres.

The forums seek to offer advice and information on a wide variety of issues from social security through superannuation and parenting to the relationship registry.

Here are the details,

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Archbishop refuses gay request to attend Khatami meeting

This media release was issued by the Australian Coalition for Equality on 23.3.09.

The Archbishop of Melbourne, Philip Freier, has knocked back a request from gay community representatives to attend a meeting he is convening with former Iranian president, Mohammed Khatami.

Gay activists asked to attend the meeting last week to raise the continued arrest, gaoling, flogging and execution of homosexuals in Iran, however a spokesperson for the Archbishop replied saying the meeting "is a small private function with the aim of interfaith dialogue" to which "Invitations have already been issued".

Australian Coalition for Equality spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said he was disappointed by the Archbishop's decision.

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Gays seek invitiation to Khatami forum / Peaceful protest urged

This media release was issued by the Australian Coalition for Equality on 18.3.09.

Gay rights advocates have written to Melbourne Anglican Archbishop, Philip Freier, seeking an invitation to a controversial function for former Iranian president Mohammad Khatami which Freier will host in Melbourne later this month.

Australian Coalition for Equality spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said international human rights groups have documented many arrests, floggings, prison terms and executions under Iran's draconian laws against homosexuality.

"If Archbishop Freier's invitation to persecuted minorities like Jews, Christians and Baha'i is sincere, he will extend it to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender groups", Mr Croome said.

"We want to ask Mohammad Khatami whether he supports the persecution and execution of homosexuals, and what, if anything, will bring the harassment and killing to an end."

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Tas Liberal leader challenged to rule out election hate / Libs have moral responsibility to vulnerable people

This media release was issued by the TGLRG on 24.1.09.

Human rights activists have challenged Tasmanian Liberal leader, Will Hodgman, to rule out attacks on minorities in the lead up to the next state election.

Yesterday, the Tasmanian Anti-Discrimination Tribunal ruled that a Liberal Party 2006 state election pamphlet which declared same-sex marriage "socially destructive" does not violate the state's incitement-to-hatred laws.

But the woman behind the case, Ms Martine Delaney, said that the Liberal Party still has a moral responsibility not to stir up prejudice and discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex people.

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Libs win right to voice gay hate

This media release was issued by the TGLRG on 23.1.09

The Liberal Party is free to demonise same-sex marriage as "socially destructive" following a decision in a hate-speech case taken by Tasmanian human rights advocate, Martine Delaney.

In the decision handed down today, the State Anti-Discrimination Tribunal found that a Liberal Party election pamphlet from the 2006 State election did not contravene the state's incitement to hatred law despite declaring same-sex marriage to be socially destructive.

Ms Delaney said she was deeply disappointed by the decision.

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Only one way forward

This letter, in response to 'Balancing Acts trip up on tightropes', was sent to the Canberra Times on 31.12.08.

Dear Editor,

Victor Violante unfairly diminishes the ACT's current civil partnership scheme (26.12.08) when, in fact, it is one of the best of its kind in the world.

Unlike the UK civil partnership scheme, the ACT scheme has official ceremonies, providing couples with an opportunity to solemnise their union.

But unlike the New Zealand scheme, the ACT scheme makes these ceremonies optional, for those couples who don't need a ceremony.

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Priests warned not to violate anti-hate laws

This media release was issued by the TGLRG on 24.12.08

Tasmania's Catholic clergy have been warned that they may be in breach of the state's anti hate-speech law if they repeat controversial comments by the Pope comparing homosexuality to environmental destruction.

Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said that any active dissemination of the Pope's views would constitute a violation of the state's incitement-to-hatred provision of the state's Anti-Discrimination Act.

"The Pope's comments will be dismissed by many people as absurd and out-of-touch, but it's a tragic fact that hateful comments by public figures encourage discrimination and violence", Mr Croome said.

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