Long-time Tasmanian transgender advocate, Martine Delaney, has been inducted to the Tasmanian women’s honour roll.
For many years, Martine has been an advocate and leader on legal equality and social acceptance for transgender women and the broader LGBTIQ+ community.
Tasmanian LGBTIQ+ equality advocate Rodney Croome said: “Martine’s persistence, courage, skill and success as an advocate has been an inspiration to LGBTIQ+ people around Australia. Martine’s induction recognises her profound impact when it comes to improving the lives of LGBTIQ+ people and making Tasmania a better place.”
“This induction will remind the broader community that trans and gender diverse people deserve equal recognition and respect, and it will send a message to the world that Tasmania has truly become the Rainbow Isle.”
Fellow trans advocate, Matty Wright, who wrote Martine’s nomination, said:
“When I sat down with Martine to talk about her work, I was blown away by how much she has done, how resilient she has been, and also how successful.”
“All LGBTIQ+ people and all Tasmanians owe her a debt of gratitude.”
“Martine’s induction will send a message to trans people and the broader LGBTIQ+ community that we are a valued part of Tasmanian society, and inspire young trans women to leadership roles within the community.”
Featured image: Martine Delaney with Speaker of the House of Assembly Sue Hickey.
Below is an edited version of Martine’s nomination.
Martine’s achievements
Martine has played an indispensable role in achieving legal reforms such as marriage equality, comprehensive anti-discrimination protections and birth certificate reform. She has performed this role as a board member of Equality Tasmania (formerly the Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group), as a board member of Australian Marriage Equality, and as a member of Transforming Tasmania. It is in no small part because of Martine that Tasmania now has some of the world’s best laws recognising and protecting the human rights of transgender and gender diverse people.
Martine has also helped achieve greater inclusion for trans women, and LGBTIQ+ people more broadly, in key social and cultural institutions. These include –
Schools: as a long-time member of the Department of Education’s LGBTIQ reference group, Martine worked with the Education Department in developing inclusive policies and programs
Police service: Martine is a long-time member of the TasPol LGBTIQ reference group and has helped to train recruits at Rokeby Academy in LGBTIQ+ issues
Health services: Martine is a long-time member of the Department of Health LGBTIQ reference group and has contributed through both policy development and training
Government: Martine was a long-time member of the Whole-of-Government LGBTIQ reference group and contributed through training and policy development
Community services: Martine was the manager of LGBTIQ+ support organisation, Working It Out
Community sport: Martine has advocated effectively for trans inclusion in sport and has helped develop trans-inclusive policies for Football Australia and the AFL
Film production: Martine is contributing to trans inclusion through her role as a professional scriptwriter
Most of all, Martine has helped foster greater acceptance for trans women and LGBTIQ+ people more broadly through visibility and community education.
Martine’s qualities
Martine has shown many exemplary qualities in her work as an advocate for trans women and the broader LGBTIQ+ community.
These include bravery, resilience, indefatigability and compassion for others. She could not have remained such a compelling and well-respected advocate for so long without great inner strength and abundant empathy for others.
Martine’s work has demonstrated her strong commitment to positive social change through the power of education.
Martine has also demonstrated a strong commitment to a better, more inclusive and fairer Tasmania. Underling this commitment is her firm belief in the potential of Tasmania to lead the world on social and legal reform.
