Equality Tasmania – Call on Tas Gov to retain current transgender inclusion laws and policies

Facebook
LinkedIn
Reddit
Tumblr
Threads

This article was originally published by Equality Tasmania. You can find the original article here.

Claims by anti-trans group dismissed

Equality Tasmania has called on the State Government to stick to its election commitment of not reviewing gender affirming care for young trans people, and maintaining Tasmania’s gender recognition and anti-discrimination laws.

The call comes after anti-transgender group, Women Speak Tasmania, provided the Government with a dossier it says documents problems with the state’s transgender-inclusive laws and policies. 

Equality Tasmania’s acting president, Dr Ash Russell, said,

“Tasmania’s gender recognition and anti-discrimination laws, as well as affirming care and school inclusion for young trans people, have made an immensely positive difference to transgender Tasmanians and their families.”

“Evidence of these positive benefits is what has convinced MPs like Craig Garland to support Tasmania’s current, inclusive laws and policies.”

“WST’s dossier is peppered with disinformation and provides little real evidence of the negative impacts of trans-inclusive laws and policies, but we will nonetheless write to Attorney-General Guy Barnett, and other MPs, responding to its claims with hard evidence.”

“We urge the State Government to stick to its 2024 election commitment not to roll back gender affirming care, or the state’s exemplary gender recognition and anti-discrimination laws.”

Among many examples of disinformation in the WST dossier here are three relevant to Tasmania:

WST claims trans activists vandalised a billboard in Glenorchy. There is no evidence for this claim.

WST suggests Working It Out recommends or encourages chest binding for school students. This is not the case.

WST claims there are surgeries on trans young people, but the information it cites is about surgeries on intersex young people.

Relevant State Government election commitments are below.

The WST media release and dossier are attached.

For more information contact Dr Ash Russell on 0447 378 689.

The following Tasmanian Liberal Party election commitments were given in response to an Equality Tasmania questionnaire and can be found here:

Gender recognition laws

Q. Will you vote against any attempt to weaken or otherwise amend Tasmania’s gender identity recognition laws?

A. A re-elected majority Liberal Government does not propose to introduce any changes to these laws.

Trans and gender diverse health care

Q. Will you oppose an inquiry into health care for young trans and gender diverse people?

A. Yes. A re-elected majority Liberal Government will continue to work directly with the health professionals and the LGBTIQA+ community on this issue.

This article was originally published by Equality Tasmania. You can find the original article here.

More to explore

QNews – ABS gives update on new LGBTQ+ Census questions

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has given an update on the inclusion of new questions about sexuality and gender in the next Census, after national backlash at their removal last year. The Census is Australia’s national survey, filled out by everyone in the country every five years. In 2026, the next Census will ask …

Want to keep up with the latest news and advocacy?