Julian Punch AM Rainbow Communities Tas Inc
Media Launch Salamanca Memorial Launch
Salamanca Place Thursday 16 May 10.30 am
Rainbow Communities Tasmania and the Greater Hobart Coming Out Proud Community Liaison Committee welcomes the launch of Justy Phillips’, The ‘Yellow Line’ by The Right Honourable the Lord Mayor of Hobart, Alderman Damon Thomas on Thursday 16 May 2013 at 5.30
The ‘Yellow Line’ commemorative art piece is one of four projects that formed part of the 2008 apology by the Hobart City Council for when it called on the Tasmanian police to make 130 arrests in 1988 for trespass at Salamanca Market of supporters of the Tasmanian Gay Law Reform Group (TGLRG) signing a petition calling on the state parliament to repeal laws that criminalised homosexuality.
The four projects including the commemorative art work alongside the HCC Salamanca Apology in 2008 were initiated by the Coming Out Proud Greater Hobart Community Liaison Committee in partnership with the Hobart City Council and represented the collective aspirations of the LGBTI Communities.
The Coming Out Proud Greater Hobart Community Liaison Committee raised $7000 to match the Council contribution to -wards the Salamanca Commemorative Art Installation Project. The funding was raised by a small sub Committee holding a Rainbow Artists Exhibition and Auction in 2009 and represents a contribution from the LGBTI Community in Tasmania (Rainbow Communities Tasmania Inc.).
Mr Punch from Rainbow Communities Inc. said “the apology and commemorative art installation are a courageous reversal of the actions of an earlier Council. They are an effective act of conciliation and wise leadership which removes the stigma of discrimination so important in the restoration of health and well -being for the LGBTI Community in Tasmania”
Mr. Punch added “this conciliation process needs to continue to wipe out the awful effects and vestiges of discrimination still existing in Tasmania to- day when same sex attracted young people (SSAYP) are three times more likely to attempt suicide than heterosexual youth”
(Howard, J. et al, Same Sex Attracted Youth in Mental Health Promotion and Young People: Concepts and Practice. 2002. Eds Rowling, L, Martin, G., Walker, L. McGraw Hill, Australia)
Julian Punch AM
Rainbow Communities Tas Inc
WEB www.rainbowtas,org
