Hobart City Council has rejected a motion put forward by Cr Louise Elliott that would have excluded trans and gender diverse people from Council-owned bathroom and toilet facilities appropriate to their gender.
The motion, which was mainly aimed at the Hobart Aquatic Centre, would have forced trans and gender diverse individuals to use a separate, gender-neutral facility.
The motion was defeated in a nine to three vote, with Council instead choosing to support a motion from Councillors Zelinda Sherlock and Ryan Posselt.
The new motion affirms the council’s support for trans women’s access to women’s facilities and commits the council to gender identity inclusion training for all elected members.
Equality Tasmania spokesperson, Rose Boccalatte, praised the council’s decision, saying it is a “victory” for inclusion.
Boccalatte also expressed relief on behalf of the trans Tasmanians and their families, adding that “segregated facilities have been dealt such a decisive blow.”
Boccalatte noted that the defeated motion should never have been proposed, given that there was no discernible problem.
She hopes that Tasmania can move on from these corrosive attacks against the dignity of trans and gender diverse people.
