Equality in surrogacy
This call to action was issued by the TGLRG on 6.4.11
The Tasmanian Liberal Party has proposed an amendment to the Government's Surrogacy Bill which means surrogacy will be decriminalised for heterosexual married and de facto couples, and singles, but not for same-sex couples.
By directly targeting same-sex couples, this is a deeply prejudiced and insulting amendment.
The Government will oppose the amendment, as will the Greens, so it will not pass in the Lower House.
However, it still important to protest the amendment because a) it shows the Liberals have veered to the far right after a decade of tolerance on LGBTI issues and b) the amendment will be proposed in the Upper House.
Please write to all Liberals expressing your concern about this amendment. Also write to all Upper House members urging them not to support it.
Below there is a list of dot points you can include in your letter, as well as the email addresses for all State Liberals and all Upper House members.
Please pass this on to anyone you think may be interested. In the coming days I will be in touch again with details of further actions you can take on this issue.
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Tasmanian Relationship Stats as of 30/09/2009
Here are the latest statistics on Deeds of Relationship registered in Tasmania.
Tasmanian Relationship Stats as of 30/09/2009:
· Number of relationships registered = 136
· Out of these, number of significant relationships registered = 134
· Number of caring relationships registered = 2
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Write to Tasmania's Upper House members now!
This action alert was issued by the TGLRG on 25.8.09.
Tasmanian Upper House members have been flooded with emails from people opposed to recognising and protecting families with two mums.
Please take a few moments to send a letter to Upper House members showing that you support this important reform.
Please also distribute this to all your friends.
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Deemed parenting for same-sex couples: fact sheet
This fact sheet was issued by the TGLRG in August 2009.
The issue
Under the Status of Children Act 1974, the same-sex partner of a woman who has a child through artificial reproductive technology such as IVF cannot be presumed to be the other legal parent of the child.
This presumption does occur when a partner is of the opposite sex.
History of the issue
In 2003 the Bacon Labor Government moved to eliminate legal discrimination against same-sex partners with the Relationships Act 2003.
This Act amended the Status of Children Act to allow non-biological mothers to have the same parenting rights and responsibilities as non-biological fathers when children are conceived through ART.
That part of the Relationships Act was supported by a majority of Opposition MPs. But was defeated by one vote in the Legislative Council.
The Community Development Committee conducted a subsequent inquiry into deemed parenting. It recommended reform.
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Keeping the parties honest on discrimination
This election statement by independent Senate candidate, Dino Ottavi, was submitted to the TGLRG for distribution amongst LGBT Tasmanians.
INTRODUCTION
In 2004 I stood for the Senate as an Independent Candidate and I came 9th in my primary vote but I was below the line. In fact I had the highest primary vote for any below the line Senate Independent Candidate in the whole of Australia. In that election I had first preferences from the Greens and second preferences from the ALP.
In this upcoming Federal election I have a box above the line and I have also an excellent chance to see that the sixth seat is within my reach, and away from the Family First Party. This is so because I once again have first preferences from the Greens and second preferences from the ALP.
The simple fact is that in this election a political party - Family First, or and Independent - myself, may win the last or sixth Senate seat.
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Deeds of Relationships - the current stats
The following statistics for Tasmanian registered relationships were made available by the State Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages on 24.4.07
Total number of relationships registered = 81
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