Media release – Equality Tasmania, 30 June 2023
Protest sends pro-trans message to Hobart commuters
Forty people turned out in wet, cold and windy weather yesterday to protest an anti-transgender message on a billboard in Hobart’s northern suburbs.
For nearly a month the billboard sponsored by anti-transgender group, LGB Tasmania, has broadcast the message “Let Kids Be Kids” in opposition to gender-affirming health care and education for young trans and gender diverse Tasmanians.
The protesters, who stood in front of the billboard at the Hobart showgrounds on the Brooker Highway in Glenorchy, held banners declaring “Let Trans Kids Be Trans Kids”, “Trans Lives Worth Fighting For” and “Unbroken”, with many commuters sounding their car horns in support.
Spokesperson for Equality Tasmania which organised the protest, Olivia Hogarth, said,
“It was heartwarming to have so many people brave the wet and blustery conditions to join our action to support and stand in solidarity with trans and gender diverse Tasmanians. ”
“As the 40 of us stood in front of the electronic billboard on the Brooker Hwy in Glenorchy, we were greeted by supportive car horns from people who supported our message ‘Let trans kids be trans kids’.”
Long-time Tasmanian transgender human rights advocate, Martine Delaney said,
“The rights of trans and gender diverse kids to exist is being undermined by misinformation campaigns. It’s vital they see their allies standing up for them, no matter how cruel the weather!”
From Monday the billboard was to carry trans-affirming messages sponsored by Equality Tasmania. These messages were to include “Let transgender kids be themselves” and “Save lives, Support transgender kids”.
However, overnight the billboard was vandalised with red paint and it is uncertain when Equality Tasmania’s messages will begin.
The anti-trans message only had one more day to run. No-one has claimed responsibility for the vandalism.
LGB Tasmania has said it will sponsor equivalent billboards in Launceston and Burnie. It is understood the same billboard will also appear in Sydney and Melbourne.
The vandalised billboard.
Media release – Equality Tasmania, 30 June 2023
EQUALITY TASMANIA WELCOMES NATION-LEADING ANTI-NAZI LAW
Hopes long history of Nazi attacks on state’s LGBTIQA+ community will end
Equality Tasmania has welcomed the passage of an anti-Nazi law that is the best in the nation.
Equality Tasmania president, Rodney Croome, said,
“LGBTIQA+ Tasmanians have been subject to harassment from Nazi sympathisers using Nazi symbols at least since the 1970s.”
“Harassment using Nazi symbols escalated during Tasmania’s debate on decriminalising homosexuality in the 1990s, was seen in Tasmania during the marriage equality postal survey and has peaked again during recent increased attacks on trans and gender diverse people.”
“In the past, I and other Tasmanian LGBTIQA+ advocates have received swastikas in the mail together with threats and intimidation.”
“I’m hopeful we will now see an end to this kind of harassment.”
“We welcome Tasmania’s strong and comprehensive ban on Nazi symbols and thank the State Government for initiating it.”
The new law bans all Nazi symbols, including the Nazi salute.
There will be an exemption for Nazi symbols if used for genuine academic, artistic, religious, scientific, cultural, educational or law enforcement purposes; or for the purpose of opposing, or demonstrating against, fascism, Nazism or Neo-Nazism.
Mr Croome said he is confident this exemption will cover the use of the pink triangle by the LGBTIQA+ community.
Pink triangles were used to identify gay men in Nazi concentration camps and the symbol has since been appropriated by the LGBTIQA+ community to represent remembrance and empowerment.
During debate on the anti-Nazi bill, Labor’s LGBTIQA+ Equality spokesperson, Ella Haddad, asked if pink triangles would be exempt and Attorney-General, Elise Archer, confirmed they would be.
