Tas provides official ceremonies for recognised partners / Same-sex couples can now have their 'special day'
This media release was issued by the TGLRG on 30.9.09.
Couples entering a Tasmanian Deed of Relationship will soon have the option of an official relationship ceremony.
From November 1st the Tasmanian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages will change its procedures to allow a couple to bring their Deed of Relationship into effect by signing their relationship certificate in a ceremony presided over by a marriage celebrant.
Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesperson, Rodney Croome, welcomed the initiative saying "this provides same-sex and other couples with a way to have that 'special day', on which they officially declare and affirm their relationship in front of friends and family members".
"Tasmania led the nation with the establishment of our registry of personal relationships, and now it is leading with official ceremonial recognition of these relationships."
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Tasmanian Relationship Stats as of 30/09/2009
Here are the latest statistics on Deeds of Relationship registered in Tasmania.
Tasmanian Relationship Stats as of 30/09/2009:
· Number of relationships registered = 136
· Out of these, number of significant relationships registered = 134
· Number of caring relationships registered = 2
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Tas Social Inclusion Strategy first in Aus to acknowledge GLBTI exclusion but still 'short on details'
This media release was issued by the TGLRG on 21.9.09.
Gay activists say the Tasmanian Social Inclusion Strategy sets a new Australian standard by acknowledging the exclusion faced by gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex (GLBTI) people, but is still "short on solutions".
Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said the Strategy, released today by Social Inclusion Commissioner, Professor David Adams, is the first in Australia to cite levels of discrimination and disadvantage faced by GLBTI people but fails to propose any solutions, despite highlighting ideas for tackling the exclusion of a wide range of other social groups.
"We are pleased the Strategy is the first in Australia to acknowledge the exclusion GLBTI people face, but frustrated there's no pointers for how to tackle this exclusion", Mr Croome said.
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Timber Communities Australia apologises for harmful election advertising / Pledges to work on educational brochures
This media release was jointly issued by the TGLRG and Timber Communities Australia on 16.9.09.
At a joint media event today, Timber Communities Australia (TCA) Tasmanian State Manager Barry Chipman handed over letters of apology to Martine Delaney and Peter Power for ads the TCA published during the last federal election.
Ms Delaney and Mr Power made complaints to the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner over the TCA television advertisement aired during the run-up to the 2007 Federal Election.
The advertisement attacked Greens' policies relating to same-sex marriage and the legal recognition of intersex people - using poison symbols, danger signs and audio effects to describe these policies as extremely dangerous.
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Equality bulletin #73
This Equality bulletin was issued by the TGLRG on 26.8.09.
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Equality in 2009, #73
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Hi Everyone,
This Equality Bulletin includes information about the Senate inquiry into marriage equality, the Queensland and Tasmanian debates on parenting and the Commercial TV code of practice consultation.
Rodney Croome
0409 010 668
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Write to Tasmania's Upper House members now!
This action alert was issued by the TGLRG on 25.8.09.
Tasmanian Upper House members have been flooded with emails from people opposed to recognising and protecting families with two mums.
Please take a few moments to send a letter to Upper House members showing that you support this important reform.
Please also distribute this to all your friends.
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Deemed parenting for same-sex couples: fact sheet
This fact sheet was issued by the TGLRG in August 2009.
The issue
Under the Status of Children Act 1974, the same-sex partner of a woman who has a child through artificial reproductive technology such as IVF cannot be presumed to be the other legal parent of the child.
This presumption does occur when a partner is of the opposite sex.
History of the issue
In 2003 the Bacon Labor Government moved to eliminate legal discrimination against same-sex partners with the Relationships Act 2003.
This Act amended the Status of Children Act to allow non-biological mothers to have the same parenting rights and responsibilities as non-biological fathers when children are conceived through ART.
That part of the Relationships Act was supported by a majority of Opposition MPs. But was defeated by one vote in the Legislative Council.
The Community Development Committee conducted a subsequent inquiry into deemed parenting. It recommended reform.
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Hate ad stoush set to continue
This media release was issued by the TGLRG on 23.8.09.
Human Rights advocate, Martine Delaney, says that while she welcomes healthy debate, she will seriously consider a fresh anti-discrimination complaint against the Liberal Party if it attacks the human rights of transgender and intersex people in the lead up to the next state election.
The warning is in response to a claim yesterday by Liberal state director, Jonathan Hawkes, that the Party "could not rule out future ads targeting Greens policies on transgender and intersex people".
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Libs admit involvement in Brethren 'hate ad'
This media release was issued by the TGLRG on 21.8.09.
"My hope is that the Liberal Party has suffered sufficient embarrassment over this to ensure it thinks twice before again targeting vulnerable minorities."
- Martine Delaney
Human rights advocate, Martine Delaney, has welcomed an admission by the Liberal Party that it helped place 2006 Tasmanian election advertisements, authorised and funded by members of the Exclusive Brethren, which targeted the human rights of transgender and intersex people.
Ms Delaney alleged to the Tasmanian Anti-Discrimination Tribunal that the ads incited hatred by declaring transgender and intersex rights will "destroy families and society".
In the course of the investigation it was found the Liberal Party had been invoiced for the ads, although it had previously denied any involvement.
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Overwhelming Lower House vote on gay parenting sends strong message to Legislative Council
This media release was issued by the TGLRG on 20.8.09.
Human rights and legal advocates have welcomed overwhelming, cross-party support in Tasmania's Lower House for the recognition of families headed by same-sex couples.
All but three members of the House of Assembly today voted to legally recognise the non-biological mothers of children born through fertility treatments like IVF.
Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said that the overwhelming vote sends a strong message to the Tasmanian Upper House that it's time to end legal discrimination against same-sex partners and their children.
"Our message to Upper House members is simple: the issue they face is not whether children should have a father and a mother, but whether children already being raised by two mums should have one legal parent or two", Mr Croome said.
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