Lesbian, gay ban lifted in military but not in Tasmania
By Dave Wright
The federal Labor government's decision to lift the ban on lesbians and gays in the armed forces has far-reaching ramifications for the struggle for lesbian and gay rights in Australia, but particularly Tasmania — the only state in Australia where homosexuality is still a criminal offence.
The cabinet decision has been applauded by lesbian and gay rights groups, but raised the ire of the RSL, and certain Â鶹´«Ã½ of the military elite and the Labor caucus.
Rodney Croome of the Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group (TGLRG) told Â鶹´«Ã½ Weekly that the decision meant that lesbians and gays could pursue their careers in the military without the fear of being thrown out because of their sexuality.
"The federal government can no look at other reforms, particularly to the Commonwealth Public Service Act, to allow recognition of gay and lesbian partnerships in the Commonwealth public service, and also hopefully the government will look again at its HIV, AIDS anti-discrimination education campaign, which I think has been put on hold because of the decision on the military."
The irony of this decision in Tasmania is that only military personnel can legally have gay or lesbian sex. It would seem at some point in the near future state and federal law will confront each other.
Commenting on this, Croome said: "This decision has an important implication for gay law reform in Tasmania. It will not be unlikely that the federal government will contest the decision by the United Nations Human Rights Committee which is hearing a complaint brought by us for gay law reform in Tasmania. The federal government is the government answerable to the United Nations."
It is very likely that the Human Rights Committee will return a favourable decision. Croome argues that the federal government would be morally obliged to overturn the Tasmanian legislation. However, the Tasmanian Liberal government has already indicated that it would resist this move will all its might.
Croome emphasised that the United Nations avenue was not the be all and end all for the movement, that it was important to struggle on a number of levels using various methods and tactics.
Recently there has been a noticeable upsurge in anti-gay campaigning, especially in the north of the state, and an increased incidence of anti-gay violence as well.
A group calling itself For A Caring Tasmania (FACT) was recently launched. Its stated aim is to "cure" homosexuals by "de- programming" them and showing them the "error of their ways". This church-based for state government funding.
In May this year the TGLRG organised a Kiss-In outside Parliament House. There was uproar in the house as many parliamentarians voice their outrage. But it is through such actions, says Croome, that much of the hate and anti-gay attitudes will be exposed and used against the perpetrators.
"There is a backlash", Croome said, "but backlashes by their very nature are a reaction to change. What the resurgence of these anti-gay groups shows is in fact that Tasmanian's are changing. Attitudes are changing for the better, and some people can't accept this. Most people are fairly alienated by the anti-gay group's hatefulness and their chauvinism, and I think for the most part that works in our favour."