Gay pensioner schemozzle…Vanessa is appalled

By Vanessa Wagner

It seems Kevin 09 is not mighty fine when it comes to grandfathering or protecting our gay elders from what could seriously be outright abuse -” since when did we all think dragging oldies out of the closet was kosher?

There seems to be a great bloody mess of a schemozzle of a train wreck associated with the introduction of the same-sex reforms, many of which were cause to crack the bubbly.

But for lots of us, the changes mean bloody rotten, unfair, often devastating loss of income and concessions that make us wonder whether to pack the trolley and get the hell out of home now.

Centrelink, or is that Centrehell, will be treating those of us in same-sex couples much as they have single mothers for decades -” badly. Snooping, asking questions of anyone they like, and demanding that you come out as a couple, no matter what your age or circumstances, or face stiff penalties, and I mean that in the worst possible way.

Ready to wake up to clipboarded Centrelink junior in your bedroom ticking the box next to sexual relationship next to her section 24 couples guidelines? No, I’m not joking.

What are they thinking, what is the PM thinking, gays and lesbians who are octogenarians lining up on their scooters waiting for Centrelink to open so they can shift into gear and speed across the office floor shouting gay and grey to anyone who will listen and immediately take notes?

If it wasn’t so shocking it would be the stuff of comedy. How the Government could not have grandfathered, like they have for other groups for the past 15 years, those who would be hurt by the changes is beyond me.

People who are already poor, vulnerable or elderly should not suffer the shock of complying to new regimes their lives were never set up to encounter.

There are many case studies, stories of elderly gays and lesbians, people living with HIV and AIDS, and many others, showing the absurd schemozzle that this situation really is.

Get a grandfather and get one now Mr Rudd -” and tell your colleagues Senator Ludwig, Jenny Macklin, and the Attorney-General to get one too.

Otherwise, who knows what will ensue. People without grandfathers get very angry -” I know it for a fact.

Join me in telling the pollies we want grand-fathering protections for our own mob, we don’t want to be divided into haves and have nots attacking each other. That might please some, but not many of us, and certainly not me.