by Rex Wockner
International News
The City Council of Hobart, Tasmania, in Australia, apologized Dec. 10 for banning a booth promoting gay law reform from the city's weekly Salamanca Market in 1988.
In the weeks that followed, more than 100 people were arrested for refusing to vacate the site, marking Australia's largest-ever act of gay civil disobedience.
The apology, delivered by Lord Mayor Rob Valentine before more than 200 former arrestees, GLBT community members and civil leaders, including state Premier David Bartlett, coincided with the 20th anniversary of the crackdown and the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
"The Hobart City Council apologizes for prohibiting the gay law reform stall at Salamanca Market in 1988 and for the resulting arrests and bans," Valentine said. "We are sorry for the pain and trauma caused to all involved, including GLBTI people; their family members, friends and supporters; and those council officers who were required to carry out the council decision. We are also sorry that the actions we took may have encouraged ill-will and discrimination towards GLBTI people in the broader community. We resolve that actions such as these will never happen again."
The apology was formally accepted by Rodney Croome of the Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group, which has operated the booth continuously at the Saturday outdoor street market since 1988.
"Twenty years ago, as we sat in police cells for the crime of being ourselves, we could not possibly have imagined something like this," Croome said. "People everywhere who suffer human rights abuses should take this apology as a sign that no matter how bad things seem there is always hope of a better future."
Prior to the apology, a City Council-sponsored photo exhibit of the arrests was unveiled at the Salamanca Arts Centre. The council also is sponsoring a public art work at Salamanca Place commemorating the arrests.
