Greens today are celebrating the first anniversary of gay law reform in Tasmania. One year ago, Greens" legislation to decriminalise homosexuality passed the Tasmanian parliament giving Tasmania less discriminatory laws than anywhere else in Australia.

"Massive and unacceptable discrimination on the basis of sexuality remains on the Australian statutes in such matters as gay and lesbian partnerships and consequent arrangements for superannuation and even visiting rights in hospitals", Greens Senator Bob Brown said today.

"Gay and lesbian Australians remain second class citizens."

"It"s a blot on the political landscape that neither the Coalition nor the ALP will permit changes to this legislation."

"The reforms of one year ago in Tasmania remain a watershed in the international campaigns to remove discrimination and are a high point in the history of Australian social reform", Senator Brown added.

Senator Brown will be speaking at a celebration to mark the anniversary of gay law reform being organised by the Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group tonight at Kaos Café in Hobart at 7 pm.

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