Representatives of Tasmania’s gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex (GLBTI) community have told a parliamentary inquiry that prejudice and violence against GLBTI Tasmanians is higher than in other states and have called for government to fund education campaigns to tackle the problem.
Appearing today (Friday) before the Legislative Council Select Committee on Violence in the Community, Rodney Croome from the Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group and Susan Ditter from Working It Out said education is the key to reducing high levels of violence.
Mr Croome said it is no coincidence studies show Tasmania is the nation’s most homophobic state and the state with the highest levels of violent assault against GLBTI people.
“There is a direct relationship between prejudice and violence against GLBTI people”, Mr Croome said.
“But it doesn’t have to be this way; hatred and violence are learnt and they can be unlearnt through effective school and community education programs.”
Ms Ditter said there are education programs currently available in Tasmania which are known to reduce levels of prejudice, hatred and violence.
“All we need is the relatively small amount of funding required to implement those programs”, she said.
As well as recommending education campaigns, the TGLRG and WIO also recommended hate-crime legislation and the gathering of hate-crime statistics by Tasmania Police.
