Gay rights advocates have written to the State Government asking for a longer consultation period and a community summit on amendments watering down the state’s anti-hate speech laws.
Yesterday, the Government released a bill that allows hate speech under the guise of religion, providing for a brief two week consultation period.
Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesperson and 2015 Tasmanian of the Year, Rodney Croome, said,
“The Government’s proposal is radical, far reaching and will have a damaging impact on the LGBTI community.”
“There must be longer for LGBTI people and our families to respond to such a serious and dangerous change in the law.”
“The law also disadvantages other groups that could face hate under the guise of religion, including Muslims, Jews, women and people with disabilities.”
“The consultation period should be at least four weeks and there should be a summit of representatives from the LGBTI community, other affected communities and the Government to thrash out the issues at stake.”
In his letter Mr Croome expresses deep disappointment that the Government’s proposal goes even further than conservative religious lobby groups have asked for and defends existing hate speech laws as “a symbol of our shared Tasmanian values of friendliness and inclusion”.
He also cites a recent social media post by Tasmanian-born comedian, Hannah Gadsby, in which she describes the long-term psychological damage she suffers from anti-gay hate she experienced growing up in Smithton in the 1990s.
Rodney Croome, TASMANIAN GAY AND LESBIAN RIGHTS GROUP
