Marriage Equality In Australia
Marriage Equality Push in Australia
It is exciting to see that the Australian people have demanded a change in legislation with regard to gay marriage. Of course with Australia being a democratic nation one has to respect these requests by discussing them in parliament. But with a majority of politicians opposed to a conscience vote how can Australian people gain the right to be married to the one they love no matter what gender?
Recently in Parliament many labour MPs and Senators finally agreed to allow a change to the marriage act and to allow a conscience vote, however this surprising moment quickly turned sour after Julia Gillard and a few Labour Senators crossed sides to join Tony Abbott. Previously Abbott and Gillard had been more than happy to preach their anti-gay marriage opinions to the public and their fellow party members. This anti-gay stance potentially casts a discriminative persona on both of them and brings in to question Gillard’s leadership.
Gillard has made commonplace her stance on same-sex marriage. In doing so she has upset many Australians who share opposing thoughts; however Miss Gillard assures that the government is changing discriminative legislation to give all homosexual couples the same rights (such as combined Medicare) that a “married couple” would have. Gillard hides the discriminative nature of her decision by offering alternatives aimed at satisfying same-sex couples.
Like Gillard and Abbott, Shadow Attorney-General George Brandis wishes to see the Marriage Act stay ‘straight’. Brandis gave explanations to the meaning of marriage, and how changing it could possibly upset people who value the words current meaning (06.00), “Marriage is a unique institution that has a deep cultural, and for most Australians religious significance” He also said that “it should not be changed until there is a significant community consensus in favour of doing so” Brandis touches on some deep meanings regarding the principle of marriage here, making the justification of disallowing same sex marriage seem reasonable. His comments, however, serve to postpone any change in the marriage act or a conscience vote.
In the last two years the fight for gay marriage has only increased, and it will continue to do so. The support of the Greens party, through retired Greens leader Bob Brown, who is homosexual, has shifted people’s attitudes throughout Australia. Brown was a devoted Christian during the time that he was discovering his sexuality and because of these conflicts he had a lot of trouble with accepting it and coming out. As well as being a doctor and the party leader of Greens Australia, Bob has long supported gay marriage and has become a symbol not just for homosexuals but for all Australians.
Brown and all other Greens Party members strongly believe that sexuality should not be discriminated, and people should be respected for who they are. The Green’s sexuality principles have been respected by the government and all but one have been enforced as legislation. Can you guess which principle that is? Christine Milne addresses the Senate concerning the need for marriage equality in Australia. In her speech Milne mentioned that the UK, USA and NZ are all in the progress of allowing same sex marriage. What does this say for Australia? Does the progress in these democratic countries suggest there is discriminative nature within the Australian Government and/or Prime Minister Gillard? Milne aims her talk at those who deny the need for democratic evolution in this county and stresses the need for individual rights for all including the gay members of our society and the removal of all discrimination.
The facts gained from polling between 2009-2012 tell the story: the Greens and 64% of Australian people want marriage equality and 76% want a conscience vote. On the other hand Prime Minister Gillard, some of her devoted party followers, 36% of Australians and the entire Liberal Party wish to keep marriage as being between a man and woman. Undeniably we are a democratic country but denying rights by disallowing a conscious vote could result in genuine health concerns in the gay community and ignoring democratic principles. Julia Gillard said it herself that this country is moving forward, but when I comes to marriage equality we are moving very slowly. Hopefully In time the government will see the error of its ways and follow the new cultural and social norms like in UK, USA and NZ. Is a referendum a possible solution? Time will tell.
Mackenzie Reekie
References
Australian Marriage Equality online 2012. Available from: http://www.australianmarriageequality.com/wp/who-supports-equality/a-majority-of-australians-support-marriage-equality/ (accessed 1st October 2012)
LAUREN WILSON From: The Australian September 19, 2012 ‘Julia Gillard sides with Coalition for gay marriage vote” Available from http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/julia-gillard-sides-with-coalition-for-gay-marriage-vote/story-fn59niix-1226477336859 (accessed 1st October 2012)
ABC Q&A (Youtube) April 23, 2012. ‘God, Homosexuality and Bob Brown’. Available from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPCkWbeqpjE (accessed 1st October 2012)
(Youtube) Christine Milne speech 17/9/2012. ‘Marriage equality’. Available from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjyQRubhx9g (accessed 2nd October 2012)
ABC Q&A (Youtube) Aug 16, 2010. ‘Tony Abbott talks about gay marriage’. Available from:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSWlyhfvWUQ (accessed 2nd October 2012)
The Greens. The Green’s sexuality and gender identity principles. Available from: http://greens.org.au/policies/care-for-people/sexuality-and-gender-identity (accessed 2nd October 2012)
Australian Labor (Youtube) Jul 17, 2010. Julia Gillard: ‘Let’s move Australia forward’. Available from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyR2pu_pY_I&feature=related (accessed 2nd October 2012)
ABC Q&A (Youtube) 9 Aug, 2010. ‘Julia Gillard says No to Gay Marriage’ Available from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1Vbz4Tg3PM (accessed 2nd October 2012)
ABC Q&A (Youtube) Nov 8, 2010. ‘Gay marriage question’ (accessed 2nd October 2012) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZ5LLSdEWZA (accessed 2nd October 2012)