Lara Giddings Tasmania's premier Lara Giddings has pledged to enact laws allowing same-sex couples to marry. At today's Labor State Conference in Hobart, announced that Tasmania will become the first state to allow same-sex marriages if the federal parliament fails to act. Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesperson Rodney Croome says it's a historic moment for Tasmania and for the gay community nationally. "Tasmania will be more socially inclusive, we will build stronger relationships and families, our economy will benefit and we will dispel our lingering reputation for intolerance forever," he says. "Nationally, pressure for marriage equality will increase as couples married in Tasmania demand recognition from other Australian governments, and as it becomes clear that the sky doesn't fall in when same-sex partners wed." Croome says Tasmania is the logical state to take the lead because its parliament was the first to enact a civil union scheme, the first to recognise overseas same-sex marriages and the first to give in-principle support to the reform at a national level. "Ironically, the fact Tassie was the last state to decriminalise homosexuality in 1997 has led us directly to this point because the damage caused by prejudice and discrimination is still a recent and painful memory for many Tasmanians."
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Saturday, 4th August 2012 - 8:42pm