About this site

The Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group is a community-based organisation campaigning for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender human rights in Tasmania.

The TGLRG led the successful 1988-1997 campaign for gay law reform in Tasmania, as well as subsequent campaigns for state anti-discrimination and same-sex relationship laws.

For more about these historic campaigns visit our archives.

Its ongoing activities include parliamentary lobbying, media liaison, community education and direct action. It has a commitment to visibility and community empowerment.

The Group continues to campaign for LGBT law and policy reform in Tasmania and nationally.

To find out more about what we're up to read on...

Tas Parliament marriage equality motion welcomed / Call on major-party MPs to reflect public support for equality

This media release was issued by the TGLRG on 18.9.11

Tasmanian gay activists have welcomed a move that could see Tasmanian become the first Australian jurisdiction to give in-principle support to marriage equality.

Greens Leader, Nick McKim, today announced he will table a motion on Tuesday, to be debated Wednesday, that will call on Parliament to agree that same-sex couples should be able to legally marry.

Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said the motion is a historic opportunity for Tasmania to lead the nation towards full equality for same-sex couples and called on both major parties to support it.

"By supporting the motion, Tasmanian MPs can show they believe the benefits of marriage should be shared equally by all Tasmanian couples regardless of gender", Mr Croome said.
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Praise for David Foster's support for marriage equality

This media release was issued by the TGLRG on 9.9.11

Tasmanian gay activists have praised Tasmania's world champion axeman, David Foster, for supporting the right of same-sex couples to marry.

Mr Foster has told the Launceston Examiner his opinion on the issue shifted after his daughter, who is raising a child with her same-sex partner, came out to him four years ago.

Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said Foster's support is a reminder the issue is about love and family, not politics.

"David Foster's support for allowing same-sex couples to marry is a reminder that this issue is not about political, religious or moral disputes, but about the things we all value like love, commitment and family", Mr Croome said.
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Polls show support for marriage equality higher in Tasmania than nationally

This media release was issued by the TGLRG on 24.8.11

Tasmanian gay activists say support for same-sex marriage is higher in Tasmania than the other states, despite claims from Labor Senator, Helen Polley, that Tasmania's oppose reform and by Denison MP, Andrew Wilkie, that views in his electorate are "divided".

Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said a recent Roy Morgan poll found support for allowing same-sex marriages is 74% in Tasmania, higher than any other state and much higher than the national average of 68%, while a Newspoll on the issue conducted late last year also found support in Tasmania is higher than the national average.

"Poll after poll shows that Tasmania's support this reform more strongly that other Australians", Mr Croome said.
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Call on Hodgman / Giddings to show leadership against forestry rally prejudice

This media release was issued by the TGLRG on 22.8.11

Tasmanian gay activists have called on the leaders of Tasmania's two major parties to speak out against anti-gay prejudice following yesterday's pro-forestry rally in Hobart at which signs described as "foul, violent and homophobic" were displayed.

Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said the kind of prejudice on display tears apart families and communities, and can destroy the lives of young same-sex attracted people.

"People genuinely committed to maintaining timber communities would not foster the kind of prejudices that tear families apart and drive young people away", Mr Croome said.

"Young same-sex attracted people in rural Tasmania have a hard enough time without this kind of overt prejudice driving them away, or worse, driving them to suicide."
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Praise for Tas Labor over support for same-sex equality

This media release was issued by the TGLRG on 7.8.11

Tasmanian gay activists have praised the State Labor Conference for supporting legal equality for same-sex couples and their families.

Today the State Conference overwhelmingly supported a motion calling on the Labor National Conference to adopt of policy in favour of same-sex marriage. Yesterday evening the conference strongly supported a motion calling for same-sex couples to be allowed to adopt.

Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said legal discrimination has no place in Tasmanian society.

"Labor's support for same-sex equality in marriage and adoption law sends a clear message that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Tasmanians have an equal and valued place in family and community life", Mr Croome said.

"This is the second time Tasmanian Labor has endorsed marriage equality which highlights just how out-of-step Julia Gillard is with Labor rank and file."

"The current bar on same-sex adoption stigmatises same-sex couples and their families, and is not in the best interests children, including those children fostered by same-sex couples who would benefit from adoption by their foster parents."
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Labor conference support for same-sex adoption welcomed / Call on Tas Gov act swiftly on adoption equality

This media release was issued by the TGLRG on 6.8.11

Tasmanian gay activists have welcomed the State Labor Conference's support for same-sex adoption.

The motion in favour of equal adoption laws was passed late this afternoon by a significant majority.

Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesperson, Rodney Croome, called on the State Government to act swiftly on the Labor motion by introducing legislation to allow same-sex couples to adopt.

"Tasmania's unequal adoption laws send the message that same-sex parents and their families are second-rate", Mr Croome said.

"They also prevent same-sex adoption when it is in the best interests of the child, including where a child is being fostered by a same-sex couple."
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World championship axeman and Tassie icon comes out as PFLAG dad

This media release was issued by the TGLRG on 6.8.11

World champion axeman and Tasmanian icon, David Foster, has come out as the proud father of a lesbian daughter.

During an interview about his life published in today's edition of the Hobart Mercury, Mr Foster says, "yes, I have a lesbian daughter and I love her and am proud of her".

Mr Foster says his daughter Sally, her partner Lilly, and their daughter Wren, live in the Foster's home town of Latrobe on Tasmania's North West Coast.

Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesperson, Rodney Croome, praised Mr Foster for standing by his daughter and said Foster's status as a Tasmanian icon will profoundly challenge prejudice in the island state.
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Call for gay marriage adversaries to focus on what they share

This media release was issued by the TGLRG on 29.7.11

An advocate for same-sex marriage has called for people on both sides of the debate to focus on the values and concerns they have in common.

At last night's same-sex marriage debate at the University of Tasmania in Launceston, Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said,

"Many people involved in this debate on both sides share a concern about the future of marriage and a desire to strengthen families."

"Let's acknowledge what we share and on that basis build a more constructive and respectful public debate."

Mr Croome's call was in response to a decision by three advocates against same-sex marriage to withdraw from the debate.
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UN official salutes Tasmanian gay law decision as global human rights turning point / Nick Toonen 'proud' of case that 'reverberated around the world'

This media release was issued by the TGLRG on 28.7.11

The world's highest human rights official has paid tribute to the case taken by Tasmanian gay activist, Nick Toonen, to the United Nations in the 1990s which led to the state's laws against homosexuality being over turned.

The UN Human Rights Commissioner, Navi Pillay, today released a video looking back at the case as part of a new push from her office to highlight continued discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) people around the world.

In the video Ms Pillay says the UN's decision in 1994 to uphold Nick Toonen's case and condemn Tasmania's former anti-gay laws "reverberated around the world" because it was the first time the UN acknowledged that the right to be free from discrimination applies to everyone regardless of sexual orientation.

"The Toonen case was a watershed with wide-ranging implications for the human rights of millions of people,” Ms Pillay says in the video.

“Since 1994, more than 30 countries have taken steps to abolish the offence of homosexuality."
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