Rodney Croome AM is the spokesperson for the Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group,[1] campaign coordinator of Australian Marriage Equality,[1] and one of the founders of the Australian Coalition for Equality (ACE).[1]
He fronted the successful campaign to decriminalise homosexuality in Tasmania, which until 1 May 1997 was a criminal offense punishable by up to 25 years in jail.[2] That campaign saw Tasmanian activists take their case to the United Nations (Toonen v Australia), the Federal Government and the High Court.[1]
He has also been the editor of Tasmanian literary magazine Island.[3]
In early 2004, Croome predicted that the Howard Government would legislate to rule out the possibility for same-sex marriage.[4] On 13 August 2004, such a law was passed by the government, with support from the then Labor Opposition.[5]
Croome continues to advocate marriage equality and other LGBT causes.[6] In 2010, he co-authored a book presenting the "Yes/No" cases for marriage equality, entitled WHY vs WHY: Gay Marriage (Pantera Press).[7]
In recognition of his work Rodney was:[1]