Gay rights advocates have referred anti-gay flyers distributed in Launceston to Tasmania’s Anti-Discrimination Commission.

The Tasmanian government is gearing up to grant full adoption rights to gay and lesbian couples.

Intersex and other sex and gender diverse people are celebrating the release of the Tasmanian Government’s proposed amendments to the state’s Anti-Discrimination Act which will provide stronger protection for the transgender community and for the first time anywhere in Australia include specific protections for intersex people.

Recent defeats of same-sex marriage bills in Tasmania as well as Federal Parliament hide how close equality actually is, writes Australian Marriage Equality national convener Rodney Croome.

A new sex education strategy launched by the Tasmanian Government this week has been applauded by LGBTI groups.

LGBTI people across Australia will be forced to wait some time longer for same-sex marriage laws after Tasmania’s Upper House last night scuttled a bill that would have allowed same-sex couples to enter into marriages recognised by the state.

Tasmania will not become the first Australian state or territory to legislate for same-sex marriage after the state’s Upper House today voted down a bill co-sponsored by Premier Lara Giddings and Greens Leader Nick McKim.

Tasmania could become the first state to introduce same-sex marriage laws after debate commenced in Tasmania’s Upper House late this afternoon with a final vote on the bill not expected until tomorrow or maybe the next sitting day of parliament.

Marriage equality advocates have vowed the battle will now turn towards the states after the defeat of two separate marriage equality bills in both houses of Federal Parliament.

Yesterday’s defeat of a federal same-sex marriage bill has intensified the push for states to lead the way on marriage equality while on the federal level the Opposition is again trying to introduce civil unions.

The ACT Labor Government has indicated it will legislate for same-sex marriage in its next term of office should it win the upcoming territory elections in a month’s time.

As debate on a state-based marriage equality bill is due to commence in Tasmania’s Parliament in a few hours times, a bill paving the way for all Tasmanian couples, including same-sex and de facto relationships, to legally access child surrogacy arrangements looks set to pass.

The ACT Government has confirmed it will work with Tasmania on drafting state and territory-based marriage equality laws after the Territory Parliament passed a bill last night effectively restoring civil unions law first introduced in the ACT in 2006.

The failure of our national leaders to support marriage equality has left vacant the position of equality champion. That role has now been taken up by Tasmanian Labor Premier, Lara Giddings.

Tasmanian opposition leader Will Hodgman has come under fire for refusing to allow Liberal MPs a conscience vote on the issue of same-sex marriage.