Equal rights campaigner Rodney Croome to deliver the Sandy Duncanson Social Justice Lecture
Equal rights campaigner Rodney Croome will present the Sandy Duncanson Social Justice Lecture at the University of Tasmania
Marriage equality will profoundly transform Australia, long-time advocate Rodney Croome AM has declared ahead of a public lecture to be viewed by hundreds of people around the State.
Mr Croome will present this year’s Sandy Duncanson Social Justice Lecture at the University of Tasmania, which honours the work of the late Tasmanian lawyer Alexander (Sandy) Duncanson.
Tasmanian lawyer and social justice advocate Sandy Duncanson, who died in 2010
In his talk, titled The Long Road Home: How Marriage Equality will Unlock a Better Future for Australia, Mr Croome will argue that legislation allowing same-sex marriage will result in wide-ranging positives.
“Marriage equality will mean same-sex couples will be able to walk down the aisle, but it will also mean much more,” Mr Croome says. “Marriage equality is one of the keys to unlocking a far more open, inclusive, plural and equal future for Australia. The profound and very positive impact of marriage equality on Australia will be felt for generations.”
Mr Croome will also argue that, if there is a Yes vote for same-sex marriage, legislation should not be compromised by provisions allowing married same-sex couples to be denied services or recognition. “A Yes vote will mean the nation wants full equality for LGBTI people, not new forms of discrimination,” he says.
Mr Duncanson’s widow Meredith Wilson and long-time friend Bev Jefferson say Mr Croome is the ideal person to deliver this year’s lecture, which comes just prior to the close of voting in the same-sex marriage postal vote.
Sandy Duncanson and Meredith Wilson on their wedding day in 2010
“Sandy was a great admirer of Rodney Croome’s achievements as both an advocate and an activist with the Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group,” Ms Jefferson says. “There is no doubt Sandy would have demonstrated strong support for the Yes campaign for marriage equality, as he was committed to universal human rights.”
At their wedding in 2010, Mr Duncanson and Ms Wilson expressed their belief that “love has no boundaries regardless of gender, age or race”.
WHAT: Sandy Duncanson Social Justice Lecture
WHEN: Thursday, November 2, from 6pm to 7:30pm (refreshments from 5:30pm)
WHO: Equal rights campaigner Rodney Croome
WHERE: Stanley Burbury Theatre, University of Tasmania Sandy Bay campus.
Streaming to the Barrel Room, Saint John Craft Beer Bar, Launceston, and D203 Seminar Room, Cradle Coast campus, Burnie
RSVP: This is a free event but online registrations are required www.events.utas.edu.au
Tasmanian lawyer and social justice advocate Sandy Duncanson, who died in 2010.
Background:
Sandy Duncanson died at the age of 37 in 2010 after living with cancer for 16 years. He was widely respected for his work in the community legal and housing sectors and for his dedication to social justice.
In 2011 his friends and family established a fund in his name through the University of Tasmania Foundation. Each year the Sandy Duncanson Social Justice Fund grants one or more bursaries to University of Tasmania students with a demonstrated commitment to social justice.
Sandy as a child
The University of Tasmania also holds a public lecture in Mr Duncanson’s name each year, raising awareness of social justice issues. Past presenters include former High Court justice Michael Kirby, Human Rights Commission President Professor Gillian Triggs and Tasmanian Governor Professor Kate Warner.
This year’s lecture will be streamed live to Launceston and Burnie and is expected to be watched by hundreds of people around Australia via the University of Tasmania’s Livestream page at https://livestream.com/UniversityofTasmania.
The lecture is proudly supported by the Faculty of Law and the Institute for the Study of Social Change at the University of Tasmania.
Sandy Duncanson