Well, here we go - this was the headline article on the Hobart Mercury, Tuesday April 12 - the day after the UN decision on our laws was released. Reprinted, as always without permission. Laurie 8 comments in parentheses... DAMNED IN THE EYES OF THE WORLD - UN RULES AGAINST TASSIE'S GAY LAWS Tasmania stands condemned today in the eyes of the world. In an historic ruling, a United Ntions committee has found that the state's anti-homosexual laws breach international standards on human rights. It is the first time the UN has ruled on a complaint from an Australian. It is also the first time it has considered the issue of gay rights. Now the jubilant Tasmanian gay community is hoping the ruling will mean it soon can finally live within the law. But the State Government remains unmoved by the UN human rights committee's ruling that a legal ban on homosexual acts breached the terms of the international Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Attorney-General Ron Cornish (Laurie 8 note - Ron Cornish is a bit like Billy Connolly without the wit and sophistication) said there was no way the Government was going to change it's mind. The Liberal Party reaffirmed its opposition to changing the law only last week. Asked if it bothered him that Tasmania appeared out of step with the rest of the world, Mr Cornish said: "No, it doesn't bother me at all because I believe the decision of the Tasmanian Government clearly reflects the opinion of the Tasmanian public." He also described the UN adjudication process as a sham. However, the gay community was celebrating (Laurie 8 note - one of the better bottles of Carrington Blush I've had) its greatest victory since the issue gained high profile with the formation of the Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group in 1988 and the arrest that year of its members in Hobart's Salamanca Place. Federal Attorney-General Michael Lavarch said failure to follow the ruling would leave Australia open to criticism that it was not honouring its international obligations. He would write to the Tasmanian Government, forwarding a copy of the decision and planned to discuss the matter when he comes to Hobart at the end of the month. "But we're not going to jump in with a big stick (Laurie 8 note - I'm not going to make the obvious joke)," Mr Lavarch said. "There's no one sitting in a Tasmanian jail as a result of this law, there's no one before a Tasmanian court (Laurie 8 note, there was about a month ago). I'm very loath to rely on external powers and I'm not going to rush in with legislation. We'll give Tasmania a fair time to look at the decision." He said the Federal Government probably could (Laurie 8 note, and have done in the past) use its external powers legislation to override the state but he preferred to examine the situation before rushing in. The UN committee has asked the Federal Government to advise it within 90 days of how it intends to respond to the ruling. Mr Cornish said he would welcome the opportunity to explain to Mr Lavarch why the Tasmanian law should stand (Laurie 8 note, if this involves having sex with Mr Cornish, I do not want to see it!). Mr Cornish also said Labor would have to consider that it could lose two federal seats in the traditionally conservative electorates of Lyons and Bass. Nick Toonen, the Hobart man who took his case to the UN, said: "It is very gratifying that the decision has come through in such a clear and unequivocal way." The UN committee considered Mr Toonen's claim that his right to privacy, as enshrined in the international covenant, was breached by sections of Tasmania's criminal code which outlawed homosexual acts between consenting adults. "Mr Toonen is actually and currently affected by the continued existence of the Tasmanian laws," the committee said in its decision. Opposition justice spokesman John White welcomed the UN decision and commended the Tasmanian gay community for taking their fight to the international body. Tasmanian Greens leader Christine Milne said the issue was not only one of fundamental human rights, but one of Tasmania's reputation and standing in the international community. Outspoken Legislative Councillor George Brookes said the decision was a joke. "How can homosexuals say they are being persecuted? No one is persecuting them. No one is bothering them," the member for Westmoreland said. "The only reason they want the law changed is so they can get on with their own agenda As these people can't reproduce themselves, the only way they can recruit new members is through the schools and they can't do that while the law is like it is." The State Government also won support from Federal Opposition Leader John Hewson who said that while he personally did not support the Tasmanian laws he respected the state's constitutional rights to make laws on behalf of its residents. But the Anglican Church in Tasmania said it was clear the eyes of the world were now focussed on the legal situation affecting a small proportion of Tasmanians. ------ Well there we go - this took quite a while to type, my fingers are still aching. I think that it is a significant step that the decision has gone in our favour. If nothing else, it has got the momentum up and running again in the Gay Law debate. There will be a march through the centre of Hobart next Tuesday lunchtime to show the public our support for the UN decision and the continuing struggle for gay rights. Feel free to email Laurie 8 (heard@brahms.chem.utas.edu.au) for any more info. Until next time... Laurie (radox hand bath please) 8 Laurie 8 | Some Driveways are concrete Theoretical Chemistry PhD student | Some Driveways have bricks University of Tasmania, Australia | Other Driveways Unashamed 70s man, glad to be glam. | Have Pebble-Mix - Laurie 8 Opinions expressed above are those not only of Laurie 8, but the whole world