More than 80 per cent of LGBITQ+ Tasmanians who took part in a recent survey say they feel worse now than during the 2017 marriage equality postal survey.
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Equality Tasmania spokesman Rodney Croome said a recent national survey showed the debate over new religious freedom and discrimination laws was "taking a heavy toll on LGBTIQ+ people".
Mr Croome said it was a "stark figure" from the survey of 4500 LGBTIQ+ people and their friends and relatives.
The results for Tasmania were worse than the national result with 83 per cent feeling worse than in 2017.
The survey found that::
- 70.9% of LGBTIQ+ people agree that the primary aim of religious freedom advocates is to take away the rights of LGBTIQ+ people.
- 43.5% of LGBTIQ+ people agree Australia is not accepting, which is almost double the percentage (22.3%) who felt it was not accepting before marriage equality.
- 62.2% of LGBTIQ+ people feel vulnerable, 67.2% angry and 78.4% not respected.
- 97.9% of LGBTIQ+ people believe religious organisations like schools and hospitals should not be allowed to discriminate on the grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity, while 92% believe individuals should not be able to say whatever they want about LGBTIQ+ people in the name of religion
- 84.9% believe the media is biased against transgender people, 88% believe politicians are less interested in transgender rights than they were in marriage equality, and 90% believe transgender and gender diverse people are suffering as a result.
Mr Croome said he would make sure every parliamentarian who supported marriage equality received the survey.
"It is a shameful indictment on Australia's leaders that LGBTIQ+ Australians feel worse now than during the postal survey," he said.
"The message to all politicians who voted for marriage equality but are currently silent is this: your complicity with homophobia and transphobia is hurting LGBTIQ+ Australians, so speak up for our equal dignity and against religious privilege now!"
Mr Croome said the debate on religious freedom laws felt like the start of the marriage equality campaign in 2004 and the push to decriminalise homosexuality in Tasmania 30 years ago.
"On all three occasions Liberals have opened the gates of hate, Labor has stood by silent and complicit, and peak human rights advocates have been cautious or afraid," he said.
"Tasmania has the best LGBT legal rights regime in the world.
"The proposed federal override of our gold-standard laws against humiliating and intimidating language feels like an act of revenge by those disaffected by how much Tasmania has changed, not to mention a warning to the other states not to follow us.
"It feels like a personal affront to all of us who have worked so hard to make Tasmania an example for the whole world."
Sue Bailey
Sue works two days a week for The Examiner and The Advocate newspapers and and is based in Hobart. Loves any human interest stories!
Sue works two days a week for The Examiner and The Advocate newspapers and and is based in Hobart. Loves any human interest stories!
