Tasmania
— A Tasmanian transgender person will seek an
injunction to halt two election advertisements she says
incite hatred against sexual and gender
minorities.
Martine Delaney will
lodge two complaints with the Tasmanian
Anti-Discrimination Commission <http://www.antidiscrimination.tas.gov.au/>,
calling for a halt to campaign material that claims
gender reassignment and same-sex marriages will destroy
society.
In an attack on Greens
policies, farmer Roger Unwin has published newspaper
advertisements saying gender reassignment and
recognition of intersex people will "ruin our
families and society".
The Liberal Party has
also distributed a flyer that says full access to
marriage laws for same-sex couples is a "socially
destructive change".
The material has been
distributed ahead of the March 18 state
election.
Ms Delaney said the
material exacerbated the high levels of discrimination,
violence and suicide suffered by transgender and intersex
people.
"Mr first and only
concern is fair treatment for all Tasmanians," she
said.
"I welcome vigorous
debate but not when it descends into hate. It's time to
reintroduce some respect, tolerance and balance to
Australian electoral debate."
The Tasmanian Gay and
Lesbian Rights Group supports Ms Delaney's
action.
"To base a scare campaign
on the fundamental human rights of a vulnerable minority
is an abuse of freedom of speech," spokesman Rodney
Croome said.
As well as an injunction
on the material, Ms Delaney is demanding a public apology
from the Liberal Party and Mr Unwin, and that they make a
financial contribution to Tasmania's gay, lesbian,
bisexual and transgender support services.
