Premier Jeremy Rockliff has rejected calls to ban transgender women from single-sex spaces after activists lobbied MPs to sign a pledge changing Tasmania’s discrimination laws.
Tasmania will not be changing its discrimination laws despite lobbying from anti-transgender activists, Premier Jeremy Rockliff says.
A mass email sent at the weekend has asked MPs to sign a pledge to ban transgender woman from single-sex spaces, services and sports.
Discrimination on the ground of gender identity is prohibited in Tasmania, as is conduct which offends, humiliates, intimidates, insults or ridicules, victimises or incites hatred.
Mr Rockliff said that would not change.
“We stand with all Tasmanians, irrespective of circumstance or background. We have no plans to change the anti-discrimination laws,” he said.
Independent MP Kristie Johnston welcomed Mr Rockliff’s response to the issue after she raised it in parliament.
“This would be a radical change from decades of inclusive practices in Tasmania,” she said.
“It flies in the face of strong support for inclusion by Tasmania’s women’s service providers and community sporting organisations.”
Equality Tasmania also welcomed Premier Jeremy Rockliff’s commitment.
“Tasmania’s Anti-Discrimination Act has protected trans and gender diverse people from unfair treatment for almost thirty years without the sky falling in, so we see no reason it should be changed now,” Equality Tasmania spokesman Rodney Croome said.
by David Killick
Source: The Mercury
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