Federal Court Judicial Review

In 2021 I applied to the Tasmanian Anti Discrimation Commissioner for a single sex exemption to hold a lesbian event at my family's venue in Launceston. In Tasmania we have no events specifically for lesbians and I wanted to cater for my own community - the lesbian community. The rejection of my application means it is now unlawful for lesbians to have a single sex event in Tasmania. This may also affect single sex gatherings for women whether lesbian, straight or bi.

I appealed this decision by the Commissioner to the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal who sadly handed down another horrific, lesbophobic decision upholding the Commissioner's opinion.

The next step to fight Tasmania's homophobic and misogynistic state laws is an application for judicial review which will involve a constitutional challenge that we intend to start in the Australian Federal Court. This case shows the collision of sex-based rights through the lens of protected attributes, and could well be as as important as the recent UK Forstarter decision or the landmark Toonen v Australia decision which decriminalised homosexuality in Tasmania in 1996.

Tasmanian anti-discrimination law is in conflict with Commonwealth law, as the state legislation protects "gender" rather than "sex". Tasmanian law denies same sex oriented people the human right of freedom of association to hold their own events, and fails Australia's international statutory treaty obligations under CEDAW and ICCPR.

Commencing proceedings is costly and your support is crucial. Please share this page far and wide to help us raise the funds needed.

Any support you can offer will be much appreciated.

Jessica Hoyle

Update every one thank you to every one whom Has donated I am unable to take this any further due to lack of funds.
There is no money in this to challenge these laws in Tasmania so I am walking away as I dont need the stress.

All fund raised will be donated to Feminist legal clinic and for there amazing work they do.

Im a realist unless some billionaire come along I cannot continue with this.