Fury at NW gay bashing

Tasmanian gay advocates say there has been an angry response within the state’s gay community to the bashing of openly-gay Ulverstone man, Daniel Stanley, as well as admiration for Mr Stanley’s stand.

“There is shock and anger in Tasmania’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) community about what happened to Daniel Stanley”, Mr Croome said.

“We don’t accept this kind of violence and abuse as part of our lives any more, and neither should any one else.”

“As well as anger, there is a strong desire for the Government and the community to take responsibility for ending this kind of violence.”

“The only way to end this kind of unacceptable violence is a two-fold strategy of anti-homohobia courses in all schools and increasing penalties for hate crime.”

“Tasmania’s reputation will suffer if the authorities fail to respond effectively to gay hate crime.”
Mr Croome labelled Mr Stanley “a hero”.

“In the GLBT community there is profound admiration for the stand Daniel has taken despite threats of reprisals against him. He may not realise it, but he is a hero in the eyes of lots of people including me.”

“My advice to GLBT Tasmanians is to be vigilant, don’t be out alone after dark, and write to your local politicians calling for action.”

For the original news report, go to:
http://www.theadvocate.com.au/news/local/news/general/bashed-for-being-gay/2214403.aspx

• GAY HATE CRIME NEEDS ATTORNEY GENERAL TO ACT SOONER NOT LATER
Bring Discrimination Laws into Line with Community’s Widespread Acceptance of Diversity

Paul O’Halloran MP, Member for Braddon
Tuesday, 5 July, 2011

The Tasmanian Greens today called on the Attorney General, Brian Wightman MP, to prioritise tackling ‘hate crimes’, following a recent attack in Ulverstone where a person was assaulted apparently on the basis of their sexuality.

Greens Member for Braddon, Paul O’Halloran MP, called the attack a throwback to the dim dark gays of gay hatred 20 or more years ago, which Ulverstone and the North West has long since left behind, having become an example of acceptance and tolerance.

Mr O’Halloran also said that the recent report by Tasmania’s Law Reform Institute (LRI), Racial Vilification and Racially Motivated Offences, contains a recommendation that a sentence aggravation provision be introduced in Tasmania, and that this should be examined to see whether it should apply to all ‘hate-crimes’, including assaults on individuals because of their sexuality.

“People in Ulverstone and the North West were shocked and angered by this incident and no one wants to see Tasmanians victimised or this region’s or Tasmania’s reputation suffer a relapse, just when we are being recognised as being progressive and tolerant,” said Mr O’Halloran.

“In 2009, Greens Leader Nick McKim called for the Tasmanian Law Reform Institute to investigate whether the State’s racial vilification laws were adequate. In April this year, the Law Reform Institute released its final report which recommends new sentencing provisions, and the Greens believe the Attorney General should investigate whether these recommended changes would apply to all hate crimes, not just racially-motivated ones.”

“Although the local police force said it appears the motivation behind this particular assault was the “homosexuality of the victim”, the Greens believe that the overwhelming majority of Tasmanians abhor such an act and accept the diversity of all Tasmanians.”

“We welcome the Attorney General’s recognition today that more needs to be done to prevent all hate crimes and to allow our courts full discretion in sentencing individuals in line with the LRI’s report on racial vilification.”

“We encourage the Attorney General to act sooner rather than later to tighten our hate-crime laws and sentencing provisions to ensure our laws are in step with widespread community expectations,” said Mr O’Halloran.

Attached
Racial Vilification and Racially Motivated Offences, Final Report Number 14, April 2011, Tasmanian Law Reform Institute
The report included summaries of stakeholders arguing that more could be done to improve Tasmania’s anti-hate-laws:
“5.3.11 TILES and the Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group (TGLRG) supported the
introduction of a criminal racial vilification provision in Tasmania’s Anti-Discrimination legislation.
The TGLRG submitted that the introduction of a criminal provision into the Anti-Discrimination Act
1998 (Tas) would ‘enhance the status of the [Act] as an effective instrument against unfair and
detrimental treatment of disadvantaged minorities.’

However, both argued that such a provision should be ‘all encompassing’ and apply to all grounds of attribute-motivated vilification, including sexual orientation, religion, physical ability and all other attributes as listed under ss 16 and 19 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1998 (Tas)…” Page 44

Link address http://www.law.utas.edu.au/reform/documents/RV_Final_Report.pdf