Discrimination and harassment can take many forms. You may have experienced:

• Indifference or hostility from service providers including police
• Unfair treatment at work, including offensive jokes from colleagues or barriers to promotion
• Bullying or exclusion at school, including in faith-based schools
• Prejudice or exclusion in commercial services, charities and health services, including those that are faith-based.
• Failure of any government body or business to recognise a same-sex partner or marriage, including in regard to next-of-kin.
• Prejudice from a healthcare professional because of your sexual orientation, gender identity, or variation of sex characteristics.
• Exclusion from a sporting team or competition because of who you are
• Refusal to rent or sell you a home
• Harassment from neighbours
• Hate-motivated assaults on you, or attacks on your property
• Discrimination because your birth certificate does not match your identity
• Discrimination because of a criminal record related to being gay or trans
• Any kind of experience or unfair treatment that has left you unsettled because of your LGBTIQA+ identity.

Tasmanian law provides solutions to all the problems listed above.

Discrimination and harassment

The Anti-Discrimination Act prohibits all forms of discrimination against LGBTIQA+ people, including in employment, housing, education, services and sport,

• Discrimination at work and at school
• Harassment from your neighbours
• Failure of government departments or private organisations to recognise your relationship
• Discrimination in or by faith-based schools, and services such as charities and hospitals

Hate speech and bullying

The Anti-Discrimination Act prohibits also prohibits hate speech and bullying against LGBTIQA+ people, including

• Any speech which incites hatred against you
• Any conduct which offends, humiliates, intimidates, insults or ridicules you

Hate crimes

Tasmania’s Sentencing Act provides harsher penalties for any attack motivated by anti-LGBTIQA+ hate.

Relationship recognition

The Relationships Act gives same-sex partners exactly the same rights as different-sex partners, and the right for all partners to enter a civil partnership to prove their relationship status.

The Relationships Act also allows trans and gender diverse people to obtain gender-affirming birth certificates with no need for surgery, or the involvement of any third party. It also allows anyone to take gender off their birth certificate and for new parents not to include gender on their baby’s certificate.

Families

Adoption and surrogacy laws allow same-sex partners to adopt and to enter surrogacy arrangements on the same basis as different-sex couples. 

Same-sex partners can be foster parents in Tasmania.

Historic persecution

The Expungement of Historic Criminal Records Act allows gay or cross-dressing criminal records to be erased.

It also allows financial redress for those who were charged / convicted.

Guaranteeing your rights

The legal rights of LGBTIQA+ people are not always recognised or protected. Here are some tips on ensuring your rights are respected, including when officials seem indifferent to what you’ve experienced or are the perpetrators.

Tasmania Police has dedicated LGBTQIA+ Liaison Officers across the state. These officers can provide discreet support, help you understand your options, and assist with reporting crimes.

You can contact them by:

Emergency: Call 000

Email: LGBTIQA.Liaison@dpfem.tas.gov.au

Phone: 131 444 (ask for an LGBTQIA+ Liaison Officer)

In person: Visit your local police station

Office of the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner helps protect your rights under the Anti-Discrimination Act 1998.

If you experience harassment or discrimination from people like your neighbour, employer, school, colleague, etc.

They can assist with:

• Making a formal complaint about discrimination
• Reporting abuse or harassment through their “Report It” process

If your experience involves a healthcare provider, Health Complaints Commissioner Tasmania can help resolve issues between patients and services.

Community legal centres across Tasmania offer advice and, in some cases, representation:

• Legal Aid Tasmania – Legal information, advice, and some representation
• Hobart Community Legal Service – Free advice on discrimination, tenancy, family law, and more
• Launceston Community Legal Centre – General advice and specialist advocacy
• North West Community Legal Centre – Accessible legal help and community education
• Tasmanian Aboriginal Legal Service – Culturally safe support for Aboriginal people
• Women’s Legal Service Tasmania – Free legal advice for women
• Tasmanian Refugee Legal Service – Help navigating legal systems for migrants and refugees

Working It Out offers Peer Navigators who provide free, safe, supportive, and confidential assistance.

They can help with:

• Understanding your rights
• Navigating complaints or legal systems
• Connecting you with the right services
• Emotional support during stressful processes

Peer Navigators offer short-term, one-on-one support grounded in lived experience and are available online, phone, or in-person (Launceston, Burnie, or Hobart).

• Provide community-based advocacy for complex situations
• Help you navigate complaints and political pathways
• Support you in having your concerns heard and taken seriously

While Equality Tasmania does not provide legal advice or counselling, we can help connect you with the right services and advocate for fair treatment.

If you’re unsure where to go, or need extra support after trying other services, you can reach out to Equality Tasmania for guidance.

hello@equalitytasmania.org.au