Community organisations partner to tackle discrimination
This media release was jointly issued by the TGLRG, WIO and TasCAHRD on 6.5.11
Three Tasmanian community organisations have welcomed a State Government grant that will enable them to better tackle discrimination and abuse against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) Tasmanians.
Working It Out (WIO), the Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group (TGLRG) and the Tasmanian Council on AIDS, Hepatitis and Related Diseases (TasCAHRD) have received $30,000 from the State Government for the Be Proud Project which will research discrimination and abuse directed against LGBTI Tasmanians and how that discrimination and abuse can be reduced.
WIO Executive Officer, Susan Ditter, said,
"Until now the experiences of discrimination and prejudice in our communities, and the level of fear of this discrimination, have not been recorded. This project will give lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people of all ages the opportunity to record such incidents in a confidential and safe environment, and it will give the organisations involved the base data they need to better tackle discrimination."
According to Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesperson, Rodney Croome, the funding will contribute to a more accepting and safe Tasmania for everyone.
"National surveys indicate that discrimination, prejudice and abuse against LGBTI Tasmanians is worse than the national average, making it crucial that we have robust, reliable data upon which to build effective anti-discrimination programs."
TasCAHRD Executive Office, Kevin Marriott, also welcomed the funding.
"The importance of the Be Proud Tasmania project is highlighted by having three, longstanding organisations who have worked with LGBTI Tasmanians come together with united purpose. We are very proud to be a part of it!"
The grant comes from a three year fund established to meet the Tasmania Together benchmarks of reducing discrimination, prejudice and hate crime against LGBTI Tasmanians.
The fund was a Green election commitment which was announced in the 2010 State Budget.
WIO also received funds for a public speaking training program for LGBTI young people.
Ms Ditter said,
"When we conduct awareness training for teachers or other service providers we find that the personal and life stories told by young LGBTI people are the most effective way to break down prejudices and stereotypes."
In 2005 the Australia Institute released a national survey which found Tasmania to be Australia's most homophobic state. In 2010 a similar survey found Tasmania had moved to second last place just ahead of Queensland.
The Tasmanian Government media release will follow.
For more information contact Susan Ditter on 0429 346 122, Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668 or Kevin Marriott on 0439 877 646.
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Tasmanian Government Media Statement 6 May 2011
Cassy O’Connor, Minister for Community Development
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex Projects aimed at Reducing Discrimination
The Minister for Community Development, Cassy O’Connor, today announced successful grant recipients under the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex Community Grants Program.
“The successful projects are focussed on reducing discrimination, abuse and harassment through research and community awareness” Ms O’Connor said.
“We know that members of the LGBTI community experience discrimination, harassment and abuse but there is a lack of reliable and consistent data on the LGBTI community in Tasmania,”
“Better data and understanding of this problem will lead to better government strategies to combat it.
“However, there are things that can be done now to better educate people of the harm that discrimination causes and support those who are currently experiencing it and these grants will enable some of that work to occur.
“Young regional LGBTI people in particular, must be supported to ensure that they are proud of who they are and able to fully engage in all that life in Tasmania has to offer.
The last thing that Tasmania needs is to lose these youth to the larger states. Through these grants the government is helping to ensure that this doesn’t happen.”
Ms O’Connor said she looked forward to tracking the progress of the successful projects which include:
- The Tasmanian Council for Sexual and Gender Diverse People Inc. will receive funding to improve the participation of LGBTI people in North and North Western Tasmania, bringing local organisations together to improve the participation of LGBTI people in their community and reduce discrimination.
- A partnership between Working It Out Inc., the Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group and the Tasmanian Council on AIDS, Hepatitis and Related Diseases will undertake a data collection project, increasing our understating of the issues faced by the LGBTI community in Tasmania and the role that government can play in reducing harassment and discrimination. This partnership will also provide training for young LGBTI people to confidently share their experiences and raise awareness of LGBTI issues.
Contact: Sue Bailey: 6233 2305
http://www.tas.gov.au