Gillard marriage meeting push

Gillard marriage meeting push

Marriage equality advocates have called for a meeting with Prime Minister Julia Gillard following comments she does not support gay marriage.

Australian Marriage Equality (AME) spokesman Alex Greenwich said he was “disappointed” with Gillard’s comments on commercial radio last week that she would not be reversing the Government’s current opposition to gay marriage.

“We were disappointed and especially disappointed because she came out the day before and said she’s an atheist and doesn’t hold the same allegiance to [religion] that, say, Kevin Rudd did,” Greenwich told Sydney Star Observer.

“We haven’t had a chance to meet with her yet and obviously what she was quoting was Labor Party policy. We’re still going to give her a bit more time.”

A spokesman from Gillard’s office told SSO the prime minister would not comment through the media if she intended to meet with AME.

Greenwich said hopes haven’t faded Gillard may come around on the issue.

“You have to be optimistic…her thought process is not limited by what the Australian Christian Lobby tells her to say.”

AME has requested a meeting with Gillard on the issue and has also written to Iceland’s openly lesbian prime minister, Johanna Sigurdardottir, to ask her to contact

Australia’s PM to explain the importance of same-sex marriage.

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Sigurdardottir last month married her long-time partner on the first day gay marriage law came into effect in Iceland.

It’s certain the Government will try and distance itself from controversial issues such as gay marriage in an election year, however, the issue is not likely to go away.

The Greens have reconfirmed they intend to introduce another private members bill to amend the Marriage Act, after the election.

Following Gillard’s comments last week, Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said the prime minister was ignoring public opinion.

“Given opinion polls have consistently shown there is 60 percent public support for equal marriage, why is the prime minister unwilling to allow Labor’s MPs and senators to speak freely and vote honestly?” Hanson-Young said.

Campaign revived
AME has started leafleting 120,000 homes, with federal transport minister Anthony Albanese’s seat of Grayndler joining Sydney in the firing line.

But the group has stopped plans to do the same to the seat of Melbourne after ALP candidate Cath Bowtell publicly expressed her support for same-sex marriage.

AME had suspended leafleting Tanya Plibersek’s Sydney seat as a sign of good faith to new Prime Minister Julia Gillard, but decided to reactivate the campaign after she expressed  opposition to marriage equality.

AME’s Alex Greenwich told Sydney Star Observer Gillard had refused offers to meet.

“After the clear message she’s sent us, we had to take action again,” Greenwich said.

Albanese said he was proud of his record of support on same-sexx issues.

“People will make up their own mind about whether reform is advanced by targeting progressives in Labor while ignoring the threat that Tony Abbott represents,” Albanese said.

“I’m proud of my record in advancing the cause of equality regardless of sexuality.”

Greenwich said his group was targeting these seats as there was a realistic chance of the ALP losing to the pro-same-sex marriage Greens — AME has not ruled out leafleting Gillard’s Melbourne seat of Lalor.

The new fliers mention Tony Abbott’s opposition to same-sex marriage alongside Gillard’s.

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2 responses to “Gillard marriage meeting push”

  1. What about basic rights such as the right to protection in the Federal Equal Opportunity Act. Where are the basic rights and protections for our community? For our diversity. Why is it not protected.

    What is the point of Same-Sex Marriage if we cannot get these basics rights first. What about a date for all discrimination to be ended by Federal Labor? What about the year?

    Do they really think they have done enough, that this is all we can be? Is our community only worth being a Financial Centre so we can be better taxed and get less in CenterLink payments? They believe in your relationship as far as that goes.

    Is this all we are to Labor? Why are they offering to do no more if they win government. Who did not cringe when someone made a Marriage Proposal in front of Gillard. I did. For she is the hater. In her first week she attacked us, the next on her list was the refugees. Sending them to one of the poorest nations in the world that still has children starving to death. She is bullying them using their Oil and Gas to Blackmail them.

    She is being the hater because she can get away with it. Because Bill Shorten and his Labor WarLords do not like us. They want revenge as we dared to challenge them on topics such as Gay Marriage.

    I am so tired of Federal Labor. So tired of the haters. We are more then just a Financial Centre, we are so much more then that.

  2. It’s time for full civil and marriage equality rights in the 21st century.

    Onward, Joe Mustich, Justice of the Peace,
    Washington, Connecticut, USA.