WA: Gay seven win settlement after chucked off tram

AAP General News (Australia)
12-02-1998
WA: Gay seven win settlement after chucked off tram

PERTH, Dec 2 AAP - Seven visiting gay and lesbian people thrown off a Melbourne tram
because of their sexuality have won an out-of-court settlement with the Victorian Public
Transport Corporation (PTC).

The Western Australians - four men and three women - lodged complaints with the Victorian
Equal Opportunity Commission after the incident with the St Kilda Road tram in February 1996.

They were singing songs from the movie The Sound of Music when the driver stopped and
called police to remove them from the tram.

Perth youth housing worker Robyn Murphy said the driver told them: "Im not taking your
type any further", and "dont touch me".

He also referred to one of the men as a "fag".

A complaint to the PTC was met with a form letter stating the incident had been
investigated and no wrongdoing had occured, so the group lodged statements with the Equal
Opportunity Commission.

Yesterdays settlement included an undisclosed sum of money and a written PTC apology.

Gay and Lesbian Equality (GALE) spokeswoman Robyn Walsh said the settlement marked a
turning point in PTC policy.

"We and all lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, and transgendered people can stand strong with
the reassurances that we can ride free from discrimination in Victoria," Ms Walsh said.

"We want as many people as possible to see that discrimination is an unforgivable violation
of their human rights."

The case highlighted the need for Western Australia to outlaw discrimination on the basis
of sexuality.

"If a group of Western Australians were to have the same problem with a local bus authority
they would be left out on a limb because of inadequate state laws which do not cover bias on
the basis of sexuality," Ms Walsh said.

"We want people to know that it is not acceptable that redress is unavailable through the
WA Equal Opportunity Act."

A private members bill to amend the act and outlaw discrimination on the basis of
sexuality was to be considered by WA parliament next year.

AAP kbw/cjh

KEYWORD: GAYTRAM

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