Council arrest apology claims rejected

This LGBT media release was issued by the TGLRG on 16.6.08.

Tasmanian gay activist, Rodney Croome, has rejected claims by two Hobart City Councillors that the banning of a gay law reform stall from Salamanca Market in 1988 was justified.

Alderman John Freeman has claimed the stall was distributing sexually-explicit material, while Alderman Darlene Haigh has said there were numerous complaints against the stall.

Their claims were sparked by last week's endorsement of an apology for the stall-banning by the Council's Community Development Committee.

Mr Croome said there was no sexually-explicit material on the stall and that the ban was sparked by a single, anonymous complaint.

"It was quite clear at the time that the Council banned our stall simply because it was about gay law reform", Mr Croome said.

"No amount of fact-twisting can divert from the need for an apology."

Mr Croome also responded to claims by Coming Out Proud convenor, Julian Punch, that Croome's statements on the issue are unrepresentative.

"The Hobart City Council's LGBT liaison group, representing groups across the city and which Julian participates in, unanimously agreed on an apology, and for exactly the reasons I have repeatedly stated in public."

"If Julian Punch is concerned about representing the LGBT community he should be advocating for an apology, rather than undermining it by attacking other LGBT community advocates."

For corroboration of the facts around the banning of the gay law reform stall in 1988 call the then manager of Salamanca Market, Lenore Tardiff on 0417 699 120, or read chapter two of 'Pink Triangle', a history of the Tasmanian gay law reform debate by Miranda Morris.

For reports on the apology in the Hobart Mercury visit
http://www.news.com.au/mercury/story/0,22884,23856887-3462,00.html
http://www.news.com.au/mercury/story/0,22884,23862061-3462,00.html

For more information contact Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668.