By Rodney Croome
[This is an abridged text of the campaign manager's report delivered last month to the annual general meeting of the Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group.]
Thanks to our well-publicised appeal to the United Nations Human Rights Committee, gay law reform is still firmly on the political agenda. Our work on anti-discrimination and anti-vilification legislation is not so widely reported, but the gay and lesbian community has been largely responsible for repeatedly annoying our negligent government with this important issue.
Other lesbian and gay issues continue to be debated in public forums — everything from partnership recognition, youth, health, the military and violence through to our right to be visible and participate in Tasmanian society. A quick glance at the opinion polls or a few minutes listening to talkback radio clearly shows that Tasmania's understanding and acceptance of its gay and lesbian community is continuing to grow, while no-one can doubt that that community itself is growing in confidence, durability, strength and self-esteem.
In a meeting last year between representatives of our community and the police administration, one representative asked why the police have so suddenly decided to adopt a more mature posture on lesbian and gay issues. The answer — and these were the very words used by the deputy commissioner — was that our community "is now too powerful to ignore".
The battle over gay law reform is again going to be red hot. I have no doubt that the UN will rule against our laws, and if the federal government can be persuaded to take action, we will have a pitched battle on our hands. Already we are looking at strategies to ensure that we keep control of the debate.
Anti-discrimination poses different but no less potentially empowering challenges. The state government has promised to look at the legislation when parliament returns. But there remains the danger of amendments which will place us in a worse situation. Obviously, here too we need effective strategies that will allow our community to maintain its public leadership.
Our community's work on other issues is likely to expand in 1993. There are already plans for gay and lesbian health forums to match the Tasmanian community sector's growing interest in our issues. The public's increased awareness of anti-lesbian and gay violence and issues like partnership recognition will ensure that
these issues continue to be aired.
At the same time there is every reason to assume that Tasmanian activists will continue to lead the way in organising a national lesbian and gay lobby and pursuing national legislative and policy reforms.
If there is a deficiency in what we do, it is in the area of engendering pride. The direct and visible actions we frequently carry out transmit messages about humanity, bravery, anger and resilience.
What our sisters and brothers also need to hear is that being lesbian or gay is something of which they can be forever proud. I hope that 1993 will see that hotchpotch network of activists and supporters called the Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group develop its culture of brave defiance into an equally compelling culture of unqualified pride.
At every AGM since 1989 I have finished my report with an exhortation not to let the pressures of campaigning snuff out the spark that drives us on.
A gay activist and a friend of mine, Paul Dimmick, recently said in an interview that he believes gays and lesbians to be "morally advantaged" possessors of a special gift — the gift of insight, courage, compassion and love. But we can all too easily squander that gift in a heterosexist world that constantly tempts us to become as cynical and corrupt as it. For me remaining a good gay activist means nurturing the spark that drove me to such a queer occupation. My advice to you all is to do the same.