Equality bulletin #55
This Equality bulletin was issued by the TGLRG on Tuesday March 7th, 2006.
Hi Everyone,
Welcome to another Equality bulletin (and welcome to those new to our equality list).
In this Bulletin there is a call to action over the formal recognition of same-sex relationships nationally and in Victoria.
There is also a call to action over anti-transgender and anti-intersex election advertisements in the Tasmanian press, as well as details of the Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group's second election forum, and its fundraiser in April.
Rodney Croome.
7.3.06
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Formal recognition of same-sex relationships
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There have been important developments in recent weeks on the issue of formally recognising same-sex relationships.
There has been support and opposition to civil unions and equal marriage from within both the Liberal and Labor Parties.
John Kloprogge from Victoria‚s Equal Love campaign has compiled some background information, a list of MPs who have spoken out, and some model letters to send them.
If you're keen to raise your voice in favour of reform, or if you simply want to catch up on what's been happening, you can read John's summary of events at http://www.rodneycroome.id.au/other_more?id=2068_0_2_0_M16
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Protest anti-transgender election advertisements
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On March 1st advertisements appeared in Tasmania's three daily newspapers declaring that recognising the legal rights of transgender and intersex people will "ruin our families and society in the future!".
The ads, authorised by Roger Unwin of Scottsdale, cited the following three areas of concern
~ Persons to choose their gender regardless of their sex at birth
~ Sex change operations to be funded by Medicare.
~ Intersex to be a legally recognised sex
Very similar advertisements, this time authorised by David Urquhart of South Burnie, appeared on March 6th in all three dailies. The declaration about ruining families and society was removed and replaced with a concern about "alarming confusion".
All ads have targeted the Greens for supporting transgender and intersex legal rights.
It‚s vital that the Tasmanian public understand that respecting the rights of transgender and intersex people is a benefit, not a threat.
Please write to all three daily newspapers supporting the rights of transgender and intersex people. Letters from people on the mainland are most welcome.
Points you can make in your letter include
~ transgender and intersex are more respectful words for out-dated terms like transsexual and hermaphrodite (this is for those people who don't understand what the current terminology means)
~ both transgender and intersex are medically recognised conditions
~ they are not chosen
~ Medicare already partly funds gender re-assignment
~ transgender and intersex people work and pay taxes too
~ there is nothing radical about legally recognising a change of gender.
Labor and Liberal Parties already support this in some areas.
~ there has already been some recognition of the legal rights and basic humanity of transgender and intersex people and this has not ruined families and society
~ transgender and intersex people come from families, have their own families and make an important contribution to Tasmanian society
~ Tasmania suffered socially and economically from anti-gay hate in the 1990s. No-one wants a return to that.
~ Tasmania has benefited culturally, socially and economically from its growing tolerance of gay and lesbian people. The same principle applies to transgender and intersex people.
~ it is wrong to demonise vulnerable minorities for short-term partisan or electoral advantage
Please send your letters to
Letters to the Editor
The Mercury
93 Macquarie St, Hobart, 7000
mercuryedletter@dbl.newsltd.com.au
Letters to the Editor
The Examiner
71-75 Paterson St, Launceston
editor@examiner.com.au
Letters to the Editor
The Advocate
56 Mount St, Burnie, 7250
letters@theadvocate.com.au
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Tasmanian election forum
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The Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group will host a State Election forum on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues in Hobart on Tuesday March 14th.
The forum aims to provide LGBT Tasmanian, their families, friends and allies, with an opportunity to learn about the LGBT policies of the three major parties and ask candidates about issues of concern.
The forum will be facilitated and will be held between work and dinner. Refreshments will be available
Forum details
When: 5.30pm to 6.30pm, Tuesday March 14th 2006
Where: Ground floor meeting room, McDougall Building, Ellerslie Rd, Battery
Point
Format: each party will be given 5 minutes to outline their LGBT policies and the audience will have 45 minutes to ask candidates about their individual and party's views
Who will be attending:
Denison Labor candidate, David Bartlett
Franklin Greens candidate and Greens Justice spokesperson, Nick McKim
Franklin Liberal candidate and Deputy Liberal leader, Will Hodgman
For more on the Tasmanian election and LGBT issues visit
www.movingforward.org.au
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TGLRG fundraiser
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Australian music legend Archie Roach and his son Amos, will be performing in a benefit for the Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group at the Republic Bar, North Hobart at 9pm on Thursday March 30th.
Tickets are $25 ($20 concession) and will be on sale at the Republic soon.