Brethren members apologise for election hate ad

MARTINE DELANEY Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group
Members of the Exclusive Brethren who were involved in the publication of 2006 state election ads attacking the human rights of transgender and intersex people have apologised for the offence and hurt the ads caused.

The apology, to be published in all three Tasmanian daily newspapers tomorrow, is the result of a case before the State Anti-Discrimination Tribunal taken by human rights advocate, Martine Delaney.

Ms Delaney said she was pleased the people responsible for the ads have said sorry for the distress they caused.

“It’s hard enough being a transgender or intersex person in this society without your basic human rights being hatefully attacked”, Ms Delaney said.

“My wish has always been to ensure election debates are conducted without vulnerable minorities being unfairly targeted.”

The ads in question said Greens support for transgender and intersex people will “ruin families and society”.

Investigations in the course of Ms Delaney’s case revealed that the ads were invoiced to the Liberal Party.

The Liberal Party has since admitted being involved in the development of the ads.

The apology was issued by Exclusive Brethren members, Roger Unwin and Graham Lewis, and a shell company set up to pay for the ads, TradTas.

APOLOGY

In March 2006, we were involved in the publication in this newspaper of advertisements headed “A GENUINE CONCERN”. At that time a state election was about to be held. The advertisements highlighted some policies of the Greens, including those with respect to transgender and intersex issues, and urged voters to consider these policies before casting their votes.

Although it was never our intention, we acknowledge some people may have been offended or hurt by the language used in the advertisements. We apologise sincerely to those people.

Roger Unwin, Graham Lewis, Tradtas Pty Ltd.