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.

"Hatred is bound to be stirred up when the fundamental human rights of a minority are demonised in this way", Ms Delaney said.

"Despite this decision, I call on the Liberal Party to promise the Tasmanian people they will not vilify gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, or demonise our human rights, in an effort to win votes at the next state election."

In her 13 page decision, Tribunal chairperson, Helen Woods said,

"While the pamphlet may harness or draw out a dislike for homosexuals in some quarters of our society, they would be people prone to such feelings. The Tribunal does not consider that that would be the response of an ordinary member of the electorate reading this pamphlet."

Ms Delaney also has incitement-to-hatred cases against 2006 election advertisements authorised by members of the Exclusive Brethren which declared transgender and intersex human rights will "ruin families and society".

For more information contact Martine Delaney on 0417 530 621.