rodney croome
Hobart street art celebrates Tasmania’s LGBTIQA+ history
Hobart civic dignitaries joined LGBTIQA+ community representatives last month to unveil street art celebrating Tasmania’s LGBTIQA+ history. Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds, and former Lord Mayor Rob Valentine, joined members of the LGBTIQA+ communities for the unveiling of a signal box painted by local artist Katelyn Geard. Scenes commemorating significant milestones in LGBTIQA+ Tasmanian history …
We stand with Ben protest outside Tasmanian coroner’s office
Supporters of Ben Jago mounted a ‘We stand with Ben’ protest outside the Tasmanian Coroner’s office on the weekend. Following the death of Ben Jago’s partner in 2015, the Tasmanian Coroner wrongly denied him his lawful status as next-of-kin. Tasmania’s Supreme Court last week ruled Ben Jago could not bring a discrimination complaint against the …
Shelley the Magnificent: PFLAG+ National Spokesperson retires
Shelley Argent stepped down this month as PFLAG+ National Spokesperson. In that position and others, she advocated tirelessly for LGBTIQ+ rights over more than two decades. Shelley Argent, however, told QNews she will continue to advocate behind the scenes. “I’m a mother. Mums don’t retire. It’s a job for life. As the mum of an …
Rodney Croome and Brian Greig: LGBTIQ Human Rights in 2021
Rodney Croome and Brian Greig predict LGBTIQ rights battles will heat up in 2021, with big challenges and opportunities ahead. They say it’s time to get more allies on board and focus on local campaigning. Rodney Croome and Brian Greig are long-time Australian LGBTIQ human rights advocates. Both are recipients of the Order of Australia …
Rodney Croome says reparations owed for historic persecution
Rodney Croome says governments owe reparations to people convicted under Australia’s former anti-LGBTIQ laws. Rodney Croome is a spokesperson for Equality Tasmania and just.equal It’s time to talk about financial reparations for historic persecution of LGBTIQ+ Australians. Two issues sparked this conversation: compensation for victims of Australia’s former laws against homosexuality, and redress for survivors …
SOGI conversion practices consultation launched in Tasmania
The Tasmanian Law Reform Institute this week launched a public consultation on banning conversion practices. Tasmanian LGBTIQ equality advocates welcomed the SOGI conversion practices consultation. The TLRI’s Issues Paper, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Conversion Practices canvasses a number of issues. They include the definition of conversion practices, the ideology behind it, the harm caused and …
Lessons from the Rainbow Isle: Rodney Croome on advocacy
When it comes to LGBTIQ legal rights, Tasmania is another country. The Rainbow Isle enjoys the most robust LGBTIQ human rights protections in Australia. Indeed, the gulf between Tasmanian laws and those in many other states is astonishing. Even more remarkably, Tasmania arrived at this point after coming from well behind. It was the last …
Rodney Croome on election of Joe Biden: Lessons from America
For LGBTIQ Australians, the election of Joe Biden in the US provides some valuable lessons from America. 1/ Moral panics ultimately don’t work. Donald Trump tried and failed to win re-election. In part, his strategy relied on hyping fears that religious freedom is under threat and cruelly discriminating against trans folk. In fact, the percentage …
Bill Rutkin: 50th anniversary Campaign Against Moral Persecution
QNews welcomes letters from our readers on any subject relevant to our glorious communities. Please address to contact@QNews.com.au with subject line ‘Letters’. Today, Bill Rutkin writes on the progress of our communities in the half-century since the formation of Campaign Against Moral Persecution and where to from here. Robert French: Campaign Against Moral Persecution Today …
Most gay Aussies would give blood if they were allowed, study finds
A new study has found a majority of gay and bisexual Australian men would donate blood if allowed, but don’t due to the 12-month abstinence restriction. Currently, men who have had sex with another man in the last twelve months can’t donate blood. Last month, the health regulator approved a reduction of that period to …