- Category:
- News
- Author:
- Scott Abrahams
- Posted:
- Sunday, 25 July 2010
Openly gay federal climate change minister Penny Wong is facing a barrage of community criticism tonight following her public declaration of support for the Gillard Government’s stand against gay marriage today.
On Channel Ten this morning Senator Wong said she respected Labor’s view of marriage as an institution between a man and a woman.
‘‘On the issue of marriage I think the reality is there is a cultural, religious, historical view around that which we have to respect”, she said.
Australian Marriage Equality spokesperson, Alex Greenwich, said Senator Wong’s rationale for opposing marriage equality is deeply hypocritical.
“It was once the ‘cultural, religious and historical view’ that women should not be members of parliament, Asians should not be allowed into Australia, and lesbians shouldn’t even exist, yet thankfully all that changed allowing people like Penny Wong to contribute to Australian society at the highest level.”
“By opposing marriage equality, Penny Wong has betrayed gay and lesbian Australians, and by using culture, religion and history to justify this opposition she has betrayed the principles of tolerance and inclusion that have given her immense opportunities as a lesbian woman of Chinese descent.”
“If culture, religion and history were sound reasons for upholding discrimination there would be no Senator Penny Wong.”
Loading ...Potts Point resident David Polson was more direct.
“Penny Wong is a disgrace. Yet another reason to vote for The Greens in the Senate,” he wrote to Sydney Star Observer after Wong’s comments.
Scott Hill from Paddington also wrote to the paper immediately after Wong’s comments.
“Your rationale that there are ‘cultural, religious, historical view(s) around that which we have to respect’ is simply not good enough.
“We ask you therefore whether you would have opposed enfranchisement for women, which was in opposition to ‘existing cultural, religious, historical views’.
“Naturally you would also have opposed the end to slavery, as there were also ‘cultural, religious (and) historical views’ that wanted it kept.
“We live in the 21st century. It is time Labor, followed the example of Britain and so many other countries and dragged itself out of the 18th. “
Community Action Against Homophobia (CAAH) has organised a formal protest against the Gillard Government’s anti-gay marriage stance for this week.
Eggs will be thrown at effigies of Gillard and Opposition leader Tony Abbott at Taylor Square at 5pm this Thursday.
“With so much disappointment and disillusionment at both the major parties, this event is designed as a fun way for people to express their frustration at both Abbott and Gillard on issues such as the ban on our marriage rights,” CAAH co-convenor Ben Cooper said.
Each egg will cost $1, with the funds raised going towards the next mass demonstration for equal marriage rights in Sydney on Saturday August 14, Town Hall at 1pm.
July 25th, 2010 @ 5:08 pm
What right does Penny Wong have to make a decision on our future.
I am now de-facto because of her government.
None of the current people in will do much for us as was said at the 2020 summit.
Religion was fine with everything else except marriage.
This country is not really religious so stop putting this up.
Get with the present “Truth.”
July 25th, 2010 @ 5:14 pm
She will probably select 150 openly gay women for her decision making processes. The majority of heterosexuals should not be assumed to respect perverts activity and even the Pope has declared these actions wong.
July 25th, 2010 @ 5:17 pm
As if Gillard’s “Moving Forward” slogan wasn’t already a maassive joke …. clearly just words with no real substance now.
Moving Forward? Australia isn’t any time soon.
July 25th, 2010 @ 5:40 pm
Alex Greenwich nails it again. I could not agree more with his comments above.
I was hugely frustrated after reading Penny Wong’s stance against gay marriage and I immediately emailed her to let her know how unhelpful her comments were. I encourage you all to do the same. Every communication to her counts.
She is a massive hypocrite and clearly puts her only political self interests ahead of what is right.
Shame on you Penny Wong, Shame on you!
The movement towards gay marriage is unstoppable. And when it finally happens, Penny Wong will go down in history as being opposed to it.
July 25th, 2010 @ 6:32 pm
Penny Wong knows she will score big time with “the people that matter,” – god botherer’s and the like. She is as much a prostitute to keeping her seat as Gillard is. Labor will do anything to stay in power which includes trampling over human rights. Her tactic, as Gillards is to drive people to vote green, this will will deliver labor victory since preferences are going labor’s way.80% of preferences are going labor’s way in lower house seats.
July 25th, 2010 @ 7:01 pm
The Right Thing To Do is to grant full equal rights like every other civilised country is scrambling to do asap, by granting access to Civil Marriage at a government Registry Office (not to mention a number of churches WANT to marry us but are barred legally from doing so).
Think about this… 2% of the population of Australia are Aboriginal… being such a small percentage not worth caring about & easy just to keep the “status quo” & social “tradition”, did we just not bother granting them access to being able to vote Penny? Did we just not bother to remove laws banning them from interracial marriages Penny?????? NO- we still proceeded with this human rights reform because it was the Right Thing To Do.
Penny, you are a looking like a real idiot. It’s not about percentages of population when you are trampling on people’s human rights forcing them into Second Class Citizenship against the tide of other civilised countries who ARE “moving forward”. Not to mention the Same Sex Attracted population is about 10% of the population- add to that all thier family & friends who are now better educated about the issue of this human rights violation, Labor & they goofy stooges like Penny had better watch out!!!
July 25th, 2010 @ 9:33 pm
I think Penny Wong should renounce her lesbianism. She no longer deserves the title of lesbian. Treacherous.
July 26th, 2010 @ 12:01 am
Penny Wong has allowed herself to be used against us, to say our loving relationships are not as important as the next couple. Her comments are repulsive.
Wong has been one disaster after another.
July 26th, 2010 @ 12:26 am
I would like to add if Penny Wong had any amount of dignity she would resign as a Minister. She is desperately trying to cling onto power. She has shown she has no morals.
She says she is a practising Christian in the Pilgram Uniting Church in Adelaide. http://www.pilgrim.org.au/ . The Malaysian born Wong should be reminded many Churches were against her being allowed into Australia not so long ago, and that her Chinese ancestors allowed Same-Sex Marriage in Imperial China.
Wong is attempting to impose her view of Church morality on everyone. This at odds with the many Uniting Churches that openly support Same-Sex Marriage. She is a conservative sect.
We the GLBTQI community demand the resignation of Penny Wong!
July 26th, 2010 @ 1:27 am
Cultural religious historical bollocks! I hope Penny got the cold shoulder when she went to bed with her partner that night.
July 26th, 2010 @ 7:47 am
The legacy of John Howard’s hate filled, divisive Australia lives on.
Every poll sees around 70% in favor of same sex marriage.
It’s never been an issue which will change any mainstream vote. In a secular society, it’s an issue of conscience, a matter of doing what is right.
Cultural and religious beliefs, nor political ambition, can ever be accepted as an excuse for discrimination or bigotry.
July 26th, 2010 @ 8:04 am
Yet another reason why it is so important to ensure the Greens win the balance of power in the Senate at the upcoming election. The Democrats used to say they were there to “keep the bastards honest”. Perhaps the Greens should adapt the slogan “keeping the bastards human”.
July 26th, 2010 @ 8:15 am
Penny Wong is saying all those Marriages that did not happen in a Church are not valid. I think she is at the extreme end of the Happy Clapper movement talking in tongues.
July 26th, 2010 @ 9:30 am
OK, what do we want? Equal rights. When do we want them? Like, yesterday!
This isn’t going to happen anytime soon though unless we – the LGBT Community – approach it with some thought and compassion.
First off, the Marriage Act 1961 (and subsequently the Marriage Amendment Act 2004) needs updating with a Partnership Act. This needs to enable all religions (not just Christians) to conduct Marriage Ceremonies, and confine the word marriage to religious partnerships.
Any partnership outside the religious domain is then called a Civil Ceremony. And this can be between any two consenting adults of any gender.
This will get us out of the rut that we are currently in with the religious and conservative right factions and, hopefully, we will be able to move forward with ease and in harmony with everyone else we share our communities with.
July 26th, 2010 @ 9:32 am
Penny you are so Wong on this issue
July 26th, 2010 @ 9:36 am
Australian cricketer Dean Jones had his Father of the Year Award taken from him after it was revealed an extra-marital affair had produced a child (which was against the organisation’s charter. Perhaps Same Same should consider removing her from their 25 Most Influential list for her support of such a shameful, discriminatory policy. Shame on you Penny!
July 26th, 2010 @ 9:53 am
I do not want Civil partnerships or any other second rate term. Civil Marriages, with no Church at all, happens all the time. The Christian Church has never ever owned Marriage. It is a lie some put out. This should always be met with fierce resistance.
This is about inequality. Labor and Liberal do not want equality for us. They are offering nothing for the next term of government that can last four years. They have no vision for us. Penny Wong is Happy Clapper, good luck to her. The Majority of Australians are not.
When I vote I will vote Green and send a message that I want equality. Nothing less. I am not part human. My love for my partner of 9years is not part love. It is full love the same as the next couple.
Even Catholic Spain could see through the hate of the Vatican and vote for Same-Sex Marriage.
The Greens want full equality for us and so do I.
July 26th, 2010 @ 10:28 am
Penny Wrong has taken a knife and put it in the back of every Gay person out fighting for equaility. How can we get to the same level as everyone else in this country if we have our own knocking us down.
cultural, religious, historical views’ is a cheap way out at least Miss Gillard was to the fact I don’t believe in gay marriage and I am not religious even Gillard didn’t take a cheap way out.
I will be voting for the greens in push for gay rights.
July 26th, 2010 @ 10:36 am
Unfortunately the Greens don’t know how to play hardball. They would never block supply just for us. They are too nice for their own good. We need a party that will have US as their reason for existence. Only then can we make it an issue that affects the whole country. The Greens would never block some other legislation in order to force a deal with the government to pass same sex marriage into law and stop this sham about “historical” precedents.
ps. I am hearing rumors that Bob Brown is about to get knifed just like Rudd was. any truth to that? article please!
July 26th, 2010 @ 10:56 am
John- The Greens are the only Party that advocates for Same-Sex Marriage. Show me another party that raises it in parliament? Show me another party that raises this issue in the community?
July 26th, 2010 @ 10:58 am
Wow, for a woman that looks like Jackie Chan shes got some nerve!
July 26th, 2010 @ 11:01 am
I’ve just emailed Penny to ask her to confirm her views on female circumcision as practised in some societies in Asia / Africa. Because her moronic argument re same sex marriage would suggest she’s also in favour of this abhorrent practice.
July 26th, 2010 @ 11:02 am
On another forum someone has suggested next Parade there should be a float featuring people like Wong who should hang their heads in shame.
and John – rumour is going around that some within the Greens want to take over the Party and oust Brown.
Read it here
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/opinion/beware-the-greens/story-e6frezz0-1225893319043
July 26th, 2010 @ 11:19 am
Anthony- Great Idea.
Were can I donate to the SO WONG float? I hope it can go on tour at Midsummer, Mardi-Gras and every GLBTQI festival and end up out the front of her Church in Adelaide. Same-Sex Marriage marches would be good also.
July 26th, 2010 @ 11:20 am
Dear Senator Wong,
I have never written to a politician before, however I am dumfounded by the comments you made over the weekend regarding gay marriage.
You are quoted as saying – ‘‘On the issue of marriage I think the reality is there is a cultural, religious, historical view around that which we have to respect”.
In view of your party’s current election slogan of “Moving Forward” this message just doesn’t make sense. If the status quo remained on every issue in regard to religious, historical and cultural beliefs, then not many years ago ,an openly gay, female of Chinese decent would not have been serving in our parliament. A female Prime Minister, who has acknowledged she is atheist, living in an unconventional defacto relationship would not have been elected. I am proud that our nation has progressed to the stage where this is now possible and I embrace our diversity.
I think it’s time we got some real reasons why gay marriage shouldn’t be legalized. Are there any? The Labor Party leader is atheist and in a committed non conventional relationship, so there goes the religious high ground. You represent through your sexuality and cultural heritage how much our cultural and historical views have changed. I can’t believe you personally agree with your human rights being compromised. It sounds utterly hypocritical. And as for respect – you show me none.
Please Senator Wong, let’s really “move forward” and make me and the other hundreds of thousands of gay Australians full and equal Australian citizens – legalise gay marriage.
I am gay and I vote – but no longer Labor.
July 26th, 2010 @ 11:52 am
MS Wong….so you say….”there is a cultural, religious, historical view around that which we have to respect”
Fine, then get back in the kitchen and start popping out babies! Dont work on Sundays and cover your head!!! Sheeeeh stupid two face….
July 26th, 2010 @ 12:02 pm
While I wont bemoan anyone who wants a same sex marriage, union, partnership, call it what you will, at the end of the day it is a concept that is not for everyone, and it is about time the noisy minority within our community realises this.
People need to remember, this government has done more for the gay community in its first term, while the coalition did nothing in its 11 eleven years of government, do we want to return to that?
Should we lambast the current government for their inability to acton one issue? No!
You only have to look at the ramshackle efforts of Equal Love and their attempts in Canberra. A rally every few weeks with only 20 or so uni students attending and upsetting organisations with their militant approach. They have lost all credibility and respect for their cause
July 26th, 2010 @ 12:57 pm
Dear Penny,
shouldn’t you step down from your job because it was once the ‘cultural, religious and historical view’ that women should not be members of parliament, Asians should not be allowed into Australia and lesbians shouldn’t even exist”
cheers Lori
July 26th, 2010 @ 12:59 pm
Terrible! Treacherous! Horrific!
Get this woman OUT of politics… Actually what we REALLY need to do is get rid of ALL politicians that bring religion into it or collapse their personal beliefs to kiss the butt of their Boss…
With any luck, I’ll soon be in the Navy… And if I end up going to War, I have to wonder why I’m fighting for the right to freedom when people like Penny Wong support the oppression of me and my Peers…
Support your people, Penny Wong, or get out of politics…
The GLBTI community won’t be supporting YOU again, I daresay…
July 26th, 2010 @ 1:00 pm
I might be wrong, but I am sure that I had once read that Penny Wong had married her partner overseas.. So its alright for her, but not us… Interesting….. Hypocrite…..
July 26th, 2010 @ 1:03 pm
It’s time the LGBT Community STOPS supporting the ALP with blind faith. They have failed on LGBT Law Reform.
VOTE 1 THE GREENS for real Equality !!!
July 26th, 2010 @ 1:05 pm
OMG !!!! love the idea of the “SO WONG” Mardi Gras Float.
cheers xx
July 26th, 2010 @ 1:05 pm
I have watched this debate with equal amounts of horror, wonder and frustration. We must accept that weeks out from an election, the entire caucus and cabinet will, if they wish to get elected, tow the party line.
Lambasting Senator Wong’s views in this forum will not change the current status quo. What will change it is a letter to your local MP, outlining your personal story and your dissatisfaction. Your local MP represents you and fellow constituents. If you are unhappy with your local MP, ensure that on August 21, you make your vote count.
The ideal situation is that a progressive party, like the Greens, who have long fought for the rights of many minorities – not just us – will hold the balance of power in both houses. In this situation, they can then ensure that issues like the full, legal recognition of same sex relationships, are placed before the parliament and with that balance of power, we may see progression.
I am not a member of the Greens, so this comes as a purely objective point of view. If we are to change the way we are governed and ensure that this issue is debated again, then we must tell our own stories to those that represent us.
Just last week, Argentina put into law, the recognition of same sex marriage. This is because Argentina has true left and right parties – something that is not representative with our two party system. As the Libs have drifted further to the right, so too has Labor – sitting more in a middle ground than on the left where they traditionally have been.
Make your vote count on August 21 and continue to write to and lobby your local MP. With 70% of Australians in favour of the recognition of full same sex relationship recognition, it is only a matter of time until we see that recognition in the eyes of the law.
July 26th, 2010 @ 1:11 pm
So because Senator Wong is gay she’s obliged to support all gay issues? No! Not every gay person agrees with marriage and I for one are heartily sick of hearing about it. Marriage is what heterosexuals do (and not very well!!). Move forward.
July 26th, 2010 @ 1:26 pm
I think the most important lesson here is, on reading ALL the comments, that we ALL do not neccessarily want or agree with “Gay Marriage”
There is growing comment for Civil Partnership which is what I have been saying for ages.
July 26th, 2010 @ 1:30 pm
No, Baz, not every gay person agrees with marriage, but every gay person should agree that everyone has a right to it if they want it.
July 26th, 2010 @ 1:42 pm
Baz said,
July 26th, 2010 @ 1:11 pm
So because Senator Wong is gay she’s obliged to support all gay issues? No! Not every gay person agrees with marriage and I for one are heartily sick of hearing about it. Marriage is what heterosexuals do (and not very well!!). Move forward.
Mate, just because you don’t agree or want to support gay marriage doesn’t mean other people should be stopped from marrying. I have been in a gay relationship for 30 years and very happy to stay the way we are. I certainly don’t oppose anyone else that wants to marry though. It should not even be an election issue but the basic human right it is. Labor, huh, same horse with different rider.
July 26th, 2010 @ 1:42 pm
i think they should pass the law that marriage is open to everyone unless their name is penny wong or julia gillard. this is not about gay rights, it’s about human rights and equality…
July 26th, 2010 @ 1:47 pm
I’m originally from Czech Republic. Have been here for 3 years and before I came here I thought Australia is modern and open minded country. But I was wrong. Even in Czech Republic (a post communistic country) have gay people much better right then here! Registered partnership was passed in 2006 with almost same right as heterosexual couples!!! And there is already prepared legislation which should allowed same sex couples adopt child and have exactly the same right as heterosexual married couples. They just don’t call it Gay marriage as it would upset religious people, they rather call it Registered partnership.
Why is it so big deal here?
July 26th, 2010 @ 1:58 pm
australia has too many rednecks and unfortunately, they’ve been allowed into government:-/
July 26th, 2010 @ 1:58 pm
Nothing is so bitter as betrayal from someone you trusted to understand. Wong is no better than the co-opted Jewish guards in the death camps. I was tempted to support Gillard this time around because of her sensible “sustainable Australia” policy but Wong’s highlighting Labor’s anti-gay attitude has fended me off. I guess it has to be Greens.
July 26th, 2010 @ 2:05 pm
People, you can contact Penny Wong directly to express your dissatisfaction with her hypocrisy at:
http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/senators/homepages/senators.asp?id=00AOU
July 26th, 2010 @ 2:14 pm
Baz i think she is obliged to say that gay people are entitled to equality, something that our country has afforded heterosexual people of her gender, religion and culture… i think that her sexuality should also be afforded basic equality. I do not want to marry, but why should i be denied the opportunity because of my sexuality?
July 26th, 2010 @ 2:27 pm
Another big disappointment. I will vote for the first time this election and I will have to vote for the Greens. I have no other choice.
July 26th, 2010 @ 2:36 pm
Andrew and Baz, I don’t want to get married either, but I’m furious that the Labor Party is telling me I can’t.
I want to be like Julia Gillard – unmarried because it’s my choice, not because Labor and the Coalition have denied me the choice.
And I know that there are same-sex couples who do want to get married, and I resent anyone who wants to stop them.
July 26th, 2010 @ 2:40 pm
I am totally disgusted with this backward attitude and hope Penny is put back on her boat and sent home because the Australian people have decided refugees no longer need to be in this country. Get it, this is the sort of rubbish she is agreeing too, that in some way, we are different and should not be seen or heard. I hate Wong, her hypocrisy and her government. I will never vote for Labor again nor vote for parties which give their preferences to Labor or the liberal party.
July 26th, 2010 @ 2:46 pm
I have “Never” liked Wong as she as always become across as a smartsmart arse Know-It-All.But can’t say I do not like labour.
Reason being as under an Abbott Government his Be-Loved “WorkChoices” would be rolled in,and god help us if that gets in,You will have a choice to sign on the dotted line,or lose your job (I clearly remember Bosses rushing these contracts in,sometimes intimidating their workers to sign before it was crushed not long ago)
Under a Abbott “Im scared of Homosexual Government/Im Catholic,your an abomination to my Belief” Government,WORKCHOICES and other matters will be forced upon us.When questioned about series matters WHY does he ask “Next Question”? The Man who believes Ironing is a womens Job is clearly in a 50,s Time Warp,were everyone goes to Church,Wogs and Poofs are bashed and women belong in the Kitchen.God help us if this grub gets in.
Thanks
July 26th, 2010 @ 3:02 pm
Dear Penny,
As a gay Aussie, I understand that your personal journey would not be that dissimilar to mine. It’s really dissapointing to know that you have not stood up for us.
It’s not about marriage. It’s about legal equality. And not that long ago, your racial background, sex and sexual orientation would have meant no Australian senator position for you.
Can you redeem yourself before the election?
As it stands, I believe you are a flaky disgrace and on your “outstanding” performance combined with the rest of Labor’s continued upholding of legal discrimination of gays and lesbians, my vote has now switched to the Greens.
July 26th, 2010 @ 3:03 pm
Why must we live in a society that has laws based on religion! I am one of many people who are of non – religious belif and that is how I should be able to live my life.
Penny Wong you are so fart off the mark, and to be public in saying you agree with your parties stance is not only embarrassing for you, but is embarrassing for all Gay and Lesbian people.
What a joke!!!
July 26th, 2010 @ 3:49 pm
Decisions, decisions. Let’s see now. Vote for Julia Gillard (Howard-lite) – NOPE. Vote for Tony Abbott (Mad Monk who is threatened by the gays) – NOPE. Who could I vote for then? Oh wait a minute! There is The Greens! And if all the gays in the village vote for them in the senate they will have a majority! WOW! And a majority Green senate will force Julia to an ‘open and frank’ discussion on gay marriage ‘moving forward’.
July 26th, 2010 @ 3:54 pm
Labor’s Penny Wong tows the party line on gay marriage like all good Labour Party politicians do. It’s clear that the Labor Party comes before anything else to these people.
I’d like to remind people that the Australian Democrats are back – we’re standing candidates in this election and we have a proud record of supporting gay rights.
The Australian Democrats support same-sex marriage.
In NSW we have 2 Senate candidates in this election Fiona Clancy & Jennifer Mitchell, both of whom happen to be lesbian.
Unlike Penny Wong they both support their own community, believe in full equality and will work to achieve it should they get elected.
July 26th, 2010 @ 4:05 pm
I was hoping to join in with the protest, but throwing eggs at effigies? Really? Is that the best ‘formal’ response we can come up with?
I think I’ll pass.
July 26th, 2010 @ 4:11 pm
Let us all support the party that celebrates all the majestic colours of the rainbow. Not those that are colourblind.
It is an appreciation of our differences that make us strong. It is our diversity we should celebrate. We have come so far down the Yellow Brick Road road we cannot go back into the closet. We must rise up and let the Labor Party know we will not lower ourselves to their level, and support policies that seek to deny us our basic rights. We will not support a Party that seeks to discriminate.
Let us soar above the clouds and give support to the Greens. Email Labor and let them know, ring the radio stations, tell them of the Civil Marriages that people have without Churches all the time. Our love is valid, our relationships should be celebrated.
Never give up. Never feel down about this. For all this exposes the hate of the some Churches. It has exposed the hate of some political parties to the community. It will be their downfall and not ours.
It has become their problem now. Do not despair and sit back and enjoy the ride to equality. Have a laugh. Be yourself. Be proud of our great march forward. I want you all not to feel to down about this. Remember we are all in this together. You have friends.
July 26th, 2010 @ 4:17 pm
Call her office. They are answering calls. But would neither confirm nor deny that Wong has a “Pacte civil de solidarité” with her French partner.
Phone: (08) 8212 8272
Fax: (08) 8212 8273
July 26th, 2010 @ 4:27 pm
I too agree with Penny Wong. I do not want any part of a word that was created through years of religous bigotry to be part of my life. I don’t need a word to justify my love or how I do it !
Civil celebration, blah blah, I am sure we could find a new word for “us” to use !
July 26th, 2010 @ 4:52 pm
I beleive Penny Wong should change her name to Judas for her act of treachery, however i should point out that i have not voted for the past eleven years, i am fifty five years of age, and voted all my life, until about eleven years ago when i boycotted the elections in a straight community based dicatorship that persecutes gay people. My partner and I have been together for the past thirty three (33) years, in a loving gay relationship, we both have never been on the dole, and have paid taxes all our lives, but i am now so pissed off that a refugee, illegally entering the country on a people smuggler financed boat, whether they come from Sri Lanka or wherever, can arrive here, and within a short period bring their wives over to Australia, and just because they are male & female their marriage is recognised and they get all the benefits under the sun, where as my partner and i , of anglo saxon heritage, in a relationship of 33 years, have no legal recognition of our relationship and are barred from getting married, well as far as i am concerned, they can shove their straight society, and that is why i don`t vote, and wherever i can i practice civil disobedience, and as for madam Wong, i do beleive in Karma, you will get yours, Ray Stuart
July 26th, 2010 @ 5:06 pm
Civil Marriage at a government registry office is just that- a civil function. Yes, civil marriage is a civil function first & foremost, it has nothing to do with religion in this country! So why are so many sheep out thier being tricked by out pollies into thinking that religions run the laws of Australia. They don’t.
We just need access to civil marriage, equal under the law.
As for Penny- I never trusted her… as part of the phoney Kevin 07 campaign we were never allowed to challenge Kev before the election & were told we “had a lesbian in the team”, & were expected to “blindly” trust the Kevin 07 dream. Then it turned into a nightmare… with those who wanted to get married still banned, and those who didn’t want to get married(Centrelink couples) getting first class recognition on a FEDERAL government register.
At least this time, this election, we have been able to flush out all the homophobic anti-equality policies & statements out prior to the election!!
We REALLY needs us, and all our relatives & friends to vote the Greens into the balance of power in the senate (and more seats in house of reps). I personally don’t like all of the Greens policies- but I want them to WIN at least once, to stop the anti-equality homophobia. And so do my Friends & Family!!! I can always vote for someone else in 2018, but to get my rights right now, I need throw all my votes behind the Greens right now- It’s Time, It’s Time…
July 26th, 2010 @ 5:29 pm
Would it just be easier for Penny if we all went back into the closets, had sham marriages with the opposite sex, lived unhappy lives and were out of sight?
July 26th, 2010 @ 5:32 pm
I understand Penny Wong has to stick to official ALP policy, but she has claimed this as her personal view.
Having (finally!) had all our entitlements and responsibilities recognised in 2008, we now need our relationships formally recognised.
I am no fan of amending the marriage act myself, preferring civil unions/partnerships like the UK and New Zealand
(frankly, I roll my eyes hearing of gay Buck
July 26th, 2010 @ 5:41 pm
I understand Penny Wong has to stick to official ALP policy, but she has claimed this as her personal view.
Having (finally!) had all our entitlements and responsibilities recognised in 2008, we now need our relationships formally recognised.
I am no fan of amending the marriage act myself, preferring civil unions/partnerships like the UK and New Zealand
(frankly, I roll my eyes hearing of gay Buck’s night, what next, will we gather round the single men at a commitment ceremony for the throwing of the cock ring?)
Federal gay law reform has only ever come from ALP Governments. On this issue, they are on the wrong side of history – and the distance to move is getting larger.
July 26th, 2010 @ 5:56 pm
Dear Petty Wrong,
Last night I sat and watched the debate and was happy to see Jullia bet Tony knowing that as a secular women she didnt agree with our gay and lesbian rights however I did not believe that the control of personal opinion would be controlled by the ALP and maybe just maybe Penny Wong might one day speak up for us second class citizens (because she was one of us) – how wrong I was! I had no doubt that I was going to vote Labour – this has now changed. Greens now get my vote PERIOD
Tomorrow I head off to the International Gay Games along with 300+ other Australians including lesbians, Australians of Asian decent. Shame Shame we won’t have our governments support in Germany.
July 26th, 2010 @ 6:01 pm
Labor are afraid they’ll lose votes and seats to the Liberals if they back gay marriage. How hilarious it will be if they end up losing votes and seats to the Greens for not backing it.
July 26th, 2010 @ 6:22 pm
Penny Wong just gives all the christians, homo phobes, and biggots,amunition and they will say see she agrees and she is a lesbian””’WONG””
July 26th, 2010 @ 6:55 pm
Wong is no better than the jews who collaborated with the nazis in World War 2.
July 26th, 2010 @ 7:23 pm
I am astonished that you would consider a Minister of the Parliament, sworn to uphold the Laws of this Nation, could even consider expressing any contrary point of view.
Your attempts to espouse the old White Australia Policy slogan ” TWO WONGS DON’T MAKE A WHITE ” adds nothing to your ‘ hypocrisy argument … and comes straight out of the old ‘ DO THE WORLD A FAVOUR AND KILL A POOFTER ‘ era.
The times when members of the gay community were imprisoned for no better reason than their lifestyle and even the Police bashed them in the streets !!
Just because not everyone supports your personal view of Marriage, don’t assume they are against it … many in our community could really care less and are turned off by your hyperbole.
Penny has done a more than adequate job in her Ministry, which has nothing to do with your personal issues, and deserves your support not your abuse.
July 26th, 2010 @ 7:31 pm
Wong: “On the issue of marriage I think the reality is there is a cultural, religious, historical view around that which we have to respect.”
Really, Penny? That’s the same argument that was used in times past to justify a ban against interracial and/or interfaith marriages, and to support segregation, slavery and apartheid, stolen children and the oppression of women.
July 26th, 2010 @ 8:39 pm
I wonder what Penny’s partner thinks of her support for NEVER having the choice of marrying her? How amazingly embarassing.
Its difficult to think that anyone would tolerate such hateful comments. And all for a nice fat salary and super…!
Your principles were rented cheap, Penny. You had the opportunity to make a real difference while still being committed to official policy – instead you chose the Dark Side – your comments are going to be used by the weird religious right to “demonstrate” that not even gay people support marriage. Your comments have done a grave disservice to the community.
You should resign in shame. But of course, you won’t. You will just pocket your salary and smile.
July 26th, 2010 @ 9:59 pm
Civil Marriage, in a government registry office….. or your choice of a big wedding.
That way we can be as annonymous or as public as we want.
When filling in employment forms etc, we can just tick Married or Single- unlike those in the UK who have to tick “Civil Unionised” & are instantly outed !!!!!
It’s sooooo simple, convenient, private, and humane to just grant us access to Civil Marriage in a Government Registry office. As a bonus though, there are lots of churches that are also willing to perform same sex weddings for those who want something a bit more public & splashy than just a marriage in a registry office.
I hope this covers all Matt’s points… well in regards to the cockring- if you haven’t noticed the Oxford St clones era has ended- gays can now live very diverse lives in the suburbs & don’t have to go nightclubbing to find a boyfried.
And instead of flocking to Darlinghurst to live in flats, they can live anywhere & are more intergrated with thier families, & YES, some would like to have a wedding where they can genuinely celebrate thier relationship with thier partner with thier extended family.
Julia Gillard said she is an 80′s dag- well Matt, you sound like some of the Labor die-hards who are also stuck in the gay-clone era of the 80′s that’s now well & truly dead, as gays intergrate into thier suburbs & extended families & the traditional gay bars are closing like dominos. This new breed of gays are rejecting that outdated Labor stick in the mud attitude that gays are second class citizens & like any GenYer’s, they want full respect (equality) & they want it NOW!
July 26th, 2010 @ 10:48 pm
Whether shi s wrong or not, I think its hypocritical that people are writing in with the slogan ‘So Wong’.
In my books that’s racist!
So what are we saying, it’s ok to make a racist joke because we are offended by another form of bigotry?
Now THAT’S Hypocritical!
July 26th, 2010 @ 10:48 pm
Whether she is wrong or not, I think it’s hypocritical that people are writing in with the slogan/gag ‘So Wong’.
In my books that’s racist!
So what are we saying, it’s ok to make a racist joke because we are offended by another form of bigotry?
Now THAT’S Hypocritical!
July 26th, 2010 @ 11:35 pm
Baz, if same sex unions are not called “marriages”, they’ll never be recognised as equal to hetrosexual marriages.
I’m so tired of the political process being completely geared towards opinion polls. Don’t these people stand for anything?
July 27th, 2010 @ 12:24 am
I don’t know why we’re so surprised, frankly. Gillard has made her position clear – and PW is a minister within that party. The Labour Party is currently against same-sex marriage. The opposition would be worse.
She’s a politician. They only care about votes. While preferences still go to Labour, voting Green sends a message that equality is long overdue in this country.
Once a polly, always a polly – tsk, tsk, polly wong.
July 27th, 2010 @ 2:04 am
It’s not about Family First or Greens, Labour or Liberal, man or woman. It’s about Love. Please support Same Sex marriage.
Please visit http://galewa.asn.au/action-alert/ it takes literally a minute to fill out your name, email address and a short message of your choice to send to about 30 pre-selected local community papers. The goal is 50 messages of support published in 5 days.
Love to all
July 27th, 2010 @ 6:46 am
“eggs will be thrown at effigies..”
What the f***? What is that going to do other than make us look like idiots?
July 27th, 2010 @ 7:20 am
It gets worse! Quote in today’s SMH from a senior Labor POWERbroker-
“many ALP members were opposed to the homosexual civil rights measures.” Graham Richardson.
link- http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/ive-suffered-gay-discrimination-wong-20100727-10sxo.html
Wow- so maybe we just shouldn’t be voting Labor until they sort that one out! We either set up our own political party, or we just vote for the Greens.
July 27th, 2010 @ 9:28 am
To the question of civil unions/partnerships:-
There is nothing stopping Civil union/partnership being conducted by a celebrant or carried out in a church.
(I am more thinking Metropolitan Community, not St Mary’s)
July 27th, 2010 @ 1:03 pm
Actually Matt, in the UK civil unions or civil partnerships are expressly banned from being carried out in churches and you can’t have forgotten the threat of veto by the Howard and Rudd Government used to block the inclusion of ceremonial aspects in the ACT’s civil unions.
You may be able to find a church that will bless you after your relationship has been recognised by the Government, or even before, but no church or celebrant can register your relationship like they can with heterosexuals- nor are they likely to be allowed to as its precisely the ceremonial aspect which Liberal and Labor say is threatening in ‘mimicing’ marriage.
July 27th, 2010 @ 1:04 pm
Penny Wong is not a sell out, only an idiot would think so. She and many others in the ALP have campaigned hard for change, this year my partner and I were able to lodge tax returns as a couple, it saved us $786 in Medicare Surcharge, lets all remember, there has been a total removal of discrimination from federal laws bar one.
Penny and many others in the ALP continue to argue in caucus, in the cabinet and and at party conferences for further change. But the ALP has rules that bind its members to party policy. All parties in government enforce cabinet solidarity (that’s why Turnbull isn’t in the shadow cabinet, he supports the ETS) She was putting forward the party line, that is what you do if you are in the ALP. Penny has a choice, stay in and work from the inside, or speak out and lose the ability to influence the future debate. I would rather have her inside pushing for change than out and unable to do anything. One day we will have marriage for same sex couples and it will be the ALP that changes the law.
Read more: http://www.news.com.au/features/federal-election/ive-suffered-gay-discrimination-penny-wong/comments-e6frfllr-1225897278260#ixzz0uqeL4h7A
July 27th, 2010 @ 1:07 pm
The Labour party has delivered more reforms to our communtiy than any other Australian Governamnt has and we are going to oust them because of a word. Penny Wong has stood her ground in the face of the party machine and helped win these for us and you want to throw eggs at her because of a word. If you think going Green is the answer and they deserve your vote because of a word then I think you only have self interest at heart. And to just use 11 words from Graham Richardson is inflamatory, the entire issue was discussed on Q&A on the ABC last night at length.
July 27th, 2010 @ 1:44 pm
Steven, the issue was aired very briefly and cut short on Q&A last night, not ‘at length’.
Andy, the Tory/Liberal UK govt is moving to allow civil partnerships in churches etc. this parliament and the Libs deputy leader has said he expects them to move towards gay marriage in the next couple of years.
I and my guests will be discussing the Wong issue tonight on Grumpy Old Poufs, streaming live from Melbourne 8-9pm tonight, http://www.joy.org.au/listenlive
July 27th, 2010 @ 2:10 pm
This is the same woman who, in 2006, said:
“I hope there will come a time when this country can look back and wonder why some in this place and some in this government were so frightened of and antagonistic to certain types of relationships. I look to a day, to paraphrase a great man, when we not only judge people by the content of their character but also where we judge their relationships by markers such as respect, commitment, love and security and not by the gender of their partners.”
“I look to a day when government policy and articulation is not so mired in prejudice.
“I look to a day when we have a government that is not so mired in prejudice that it can address these issues fairly. One thing I do know is that that will only come under a Labor government.”
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/opinion/editorial/general/married-to-the-mob/1895318.aspx
July 27th, 2010 @ 2:23 pm
@Stephen and @steven guy; you both claim that Penny Wong is “working from the inside to effect change” – but that is not supported by her public actions and words. Sorry, but I take a person by their words and actions not promises of what they might or might not be doing behind closed doors – and on that basis Wong is nothing more than a hypocritical, gutless, convictionless Labor Party hack.
Wong has shown her willingness to do about faces on the ETS, about faces on the environment, and about faces on same-sex relationship rights. Like Albanese and Plibersek – who both openly support legislation that discriminates against homosexuals and, in Albanese’s case, actually stated that “[gays] should be happy with what we’ve been given” – they are political functionaries who’s only interest is in getting their generous parliamentary pension.
July 27th, 2010 @ 2:46 pm
Stephen is right. Parties do expect party solidarity from their politicians. This includes the Greens. The difference is that the Greens expect their politicians to SUPPORT marriage equality, whereas the other parties in parliament expect their pollies to oppose it. So you can vote for a Labor or Liberal candidate who says nice things but can’t do anything in parliament, or a Green candidate who will actually represent your view in parliament, not just in their party.
July 27th, 2010 @ 4:49 pm
Easy as 1, 2, 3 …
1. We seem to all agree that a Labor government will need to be in power for us to get equal rights.
Labor don’t yet have a policy of full equal rights, wheras the Greens do.
2. We all agree that as a general rule, a vote for Greens is a vote for a Labor government.
3. Then it is a no brainer that we should all agree to vote for the Greens, to make the journey to equal rights go faster. (Unless we say work for Labor, like Penny Wong, and various people posting comments about how we don’t need equal rights- I’m sure Aboriginals didn’t “need” access to equality in interacial marriages, or access to vote? There was no hurry right??.)
July 27th, 2010 @ 5:11 pm
@DavidW. Dude get over yourself. Those so called 80′s queens paved the way for Generation Y queens like yourself to enjoy the rights and freedoms that you enjoy today. And you can also cut out the generalisations about living in Darlinghurst flats. I’m one of those 80′s queens & I OWN a lovely apartment in Darling Point with harbour views because I CHOOSE to & can AFFORD inner city living. I also have a very diverse group of gay & straight friends & am very close with my family (albeit they do live in the suburbs). I also met my partner of 15 years at a dinner party not in a nightclub. Oh & 80′s music ROCKS – way better than the crap that is churned out today.
July 27th, 2010 @ 5:53 pm
She obviously is happy with her position in life and is willing to settle for a seat in the back of the bus as long as she can keep her cushy job. What is it with Julia and Penny ? One,supposedly straight, who can’t cook,living in sin with her hairdresser boyfriend who does….. and the other supposedly gay, dressing in men’s suits…..both saying Gays shouldn’t be allowed to get married…… if it weren’t so sad, I would laugh…..
I am shifting my support and resources to the Greens…It will cause a coalition government BUT it might be our ticket to gay marriage…..
July 27th, 2010 @ 8:18 pm
I cannot believe the way our community is turning on the first federal Labor member of parliament prepared to come out while in office as well as our first out cabinet minister. It is actually horrible to watch. Don’t members of our community know that Labor cabinet ministers have been bound by the principle of cabinet solidarity ever since the the Hawke period (i.e. they can’t disagree with cabinet/party positions) – never mind that Labor backbenchers are also meant to be bound by party policy? If you read Wong’s statements carefully, she has never once said that her own personal view is that same-sex marriage is wrong. The most she has said in the recent interview is that she is a member of a political party so has to support their policy and that she respects community views. See http://ten.com.au/media/MTP_25_July_2010.doc. ((Note politicians often say they respect views they personally disagree with)
Why don’t we pick on the right-wing heterosexual Labor MPs who have opposed our rights rather than an out lesbian Labor parliamentarian who has consistently fought for same-sex law reform and made passionate speeches in support of it in parliament? Why don’t we pick on heterosexual Nicola Roxon who summarily announced Labor’s opposition to same-sex marriage at a religious right rally at parliament house in 2004? Or why don’t we denounce heterosexual Kevin Rudd for doing a deal with the Australian Christian Lobby on both same-sex marriage and civil unions prior to the 2007 election? Why don’t we pick on the religious right in the liberal party? Why on earth are we picking on Penny Wong who isn’t responsible for any of this and is clearly between a rock and a hard place? Why pick on Wong of all people???
July 27th, 2010 @ 8:57 pm
Nasty headline for another Senator Wong story, I thought the SSO was above this shit but it reads “Just in case you missed it, here’s out gay Senator Penny Wong taking a knife to years of pressure for gay marriage and killing off a lot of the respect the gay community once held for her”, that’s just appalling and i would expect that from the straight tabloids but it looks like the media is the media no matter how you dress it. Penny Wong is part of a party that has delivered a hell of a lot of reforms for us from a situation where it was never likely to happen. To get bogged bogged down on a singular issue makes no sense. Change will come but to destroy the best chance at change is frought with danger and to sully the debate with other issues like the ETS and illegal immigrants makes no sense at all. Focus not hocus pocus.
July 27th, 2010 @ 9:37 pm
I’m amazed by the self-indulgent ranting here. I’m stunned by the bordering on racist ‘humor’ expressed above.
People should grow up, the Greens will never form a federal Govt. Our choices are the ALP or the Coalition.
Given the list of practical benefits labor introduced for my partner and I (and our daughter) over the last 12 months – as opposed to the 11 years of systematic abuse by the coalition. I’m now on our daughters birth certificate and I wouldn’t be if it want for labor.
I know who I will vote for.
Anything else is self-indulgent.
July 27th, 2010 @ 10:43 pm
Good on you John.
I was getting rather tired myself of this Generation Y mob treating us 80′s queens like some irrelevant dinosaurs.
If generation Y had not been ordering drugs instead of a beer most of the gay bars in Oxford street would still be open.
Us 80′s queens fought more battles than this Y mob could ever dream of.Police harassment, Aids,The most fantastic Mardi Parades the world has ever seen.
So don’t try to consign us to the history books.
July 28th, 2010 @ 2:30 am
I write a blog on gay marriage (global, not just australian news)
Here is my piece on Wong – “BEING PENNY WONG”
http://www.thegaymarriageblog.com/2010/07/being-penny-wong/
I don’t agree with her approach, but a little empathy wouldn’t hurt. I am very disappointed by the hatred and ignorance on this page.
Yes Penny Wong has hurt us – but everyone who doesn’t donate cash and time to politics or marriage equality charities is just as bad as her. You can’t live selfish lives and do nothing to convince your colleagues and neighbours about why we need marriage and then turn around and hate Penny Wong for not sh*tting on her party’s policies at the drop of a hat.
I am glad so many people care about marriage equality … I just wish some of you would be less childish about how you think it is actually going to come about.
July 28th, 2010 @ 8:01 am
Fuck the empathy.
This is someone who is arguing against Same-Sex Marriage to the Labor Party and the Australian People. Someone who goes to Church on a weekly basis, and argues we should respect her religion.
I have a little bit more self respect then to support someone who is attacking myself and my partner to the Australian Community.
Fuck Wong and Fuck Labor.
July 28th, 2010 @ 10:05 am
Could you imagine Martin Luther King or Nelson Mandela not standing up for what is right?
I could never imagine standing up and opposing gay marriage. Im gay, I want to be treated like everyone else and have the same choice as everyone else.
To some of the people who dont want to get married – Im not asking you to. But we all deserve the choice to get married if we so choose. This is a human right.
Providing marriage to gay people is also symbolic. We will no longer be treated differently in the eyes of the law and this will pave the way forward on how we are viewed in generations to come. This will reduce youth suicide, hate crimes and gay bashings.
This is a hugely serious issue.
Personally I am very dissapointed in Penny Wong’s comments. I dont care about cabinet unity.
We need Politicans with conviction and courage who stand up for what is right. That creates change.
While the above comments on this article may seem harsh, it will provide Wong with some feedback and hopefully she will find the courage to come out and publicly support gay marriage.
Peace to all
x
July 28th, 2010 @ 12:51 pm
There have been the occassional spurts of rallying for marriage equality. But they are fleeting impressions. My bone is that the gay community is divided over the necessity to get to be married.
Apart from the title, the Labour government has addressed considerable issues that render us the rights straight couples are entitled to. History tells us that consensus won’t uphold equal rights for minorities. Change of attitude happens only after rulings by judges, or laws are made to outlaw the behaviour, followed by education.
You can’t educate religion to do away with homophobia.
I believe Penny Wong is right in respecting the feelings of the significant masses. Not that they are right, but they live in the world too. Better an olive branch than the naive belief that we are right, they are wrong and they should do what we say. THe gay community is not that united.
July 28th, 2010 @ 1:40 pm
” Why on earth are we picking on Penny Wong who isn’t responsible for any of this and is clearly between a rock and a hard place? Why pick on Wong of all people??? ”
Because Jean, Penny Wong of all people, should understand that equality means equality. And if some gay people want to get married, despite how she or anyone else feels about it personally, they should have that right DESPITE “a cultural, religious, historical view around that”.
If we left it up to those criteria , where would we be ?
Why don’t we just disband the government and let the pope tell us how to live….
Penny Wong was elected as a GAY person and as such can and should be held to a higher standard when it comes to gay issues. She of all people should know better. We expect ignorant statements to come from the mouths of religious nuts and fundamentalists, but not from one of our own.
What Ms Wong did was to settle for political expediency.
What she did was wrong.
July 31st, 2010 @ 12:04 pm
I am gay but don’t support marriage as a Gay institution. Rather I don’t see it as something I think is Gay in any way. It should be left to the church goers and Hetro couples. – Such a pity we cannot have our own word or institution with the same entitlements – I really dislike organised religion too much to want to be ‘Married’. However knowing that so many Gay people do want marriage as a part of their life. I would support it by vote and all outward appearance.
I think Penny should have the same respect for her fellow Gays. It is sad that she can not express exactly what she feels in a government where her views can be at least balanced by many other Gay politicians. She is a rarity and unique. As long as she is there alone and voted in as a Gay politician she needs to be more careful.
We are not out of the woods yet and Yes Penny, you do owe it to us, just like we owe you our support which I’m sure come election, we will be asked for.
July 31st, 2010 @ 3:44 pm
Has anyone gotten a response to their email to her ?
August 2nd, 2010 @ 10:58 am
Only in very recent History have people from our community been excluded from Same-Sex Marriage. In the ACT Federal Labor fought to have any Marriage like ceremony excluded from Civil Union legislation. This was absurd.
Various types of same-sex marriages have existed, ranging from informal, unsanctioned relationships to highly ritualized unions.
In the southern Chinese province of Fujian, through the Ming dynasty period, females would bind themselves in contracts to younger females in elaborate ceremonies. Males also entered similar arrangements. This type of arrangement was also similar in ancient European history.
An example of egalitarian male domestic partnership from the early Zhou Dynasty period of China is recorded in the story of Pan Zhang & Wang Zhongxian. While the relationship was clearly approved by the wider community, and was compared to heterosexual marriage, it did not involve a religious ceremony binding the couple.
The first historical mention of the performance of same-sex marriages occurred during the early Roman Empire. For instance, Emperor Nero is said to have married one of his males slaves. Emperor Elagabalus married a Carian slave named Hierocles. While there is a consensus among modern historians that same-sex relationships existed in ancient Rome, the exact frequency and nature of same-sex unions during that period has been obscured.In 342 AD Christian emperors Constantius II and Constans issued a law in the Theodosian Code (C. Th. 9.7.3) prohibiting same-sex marriage in Rome and ordering execution for those so married.
There has been a lot of lies put out by Penny Wong, Labor, and Christian Groups about the history of Same-Sex. If we are to use history as a guide, and the many cultures that had Same-Sex Marriage, then we should be talking about bringing back Same-Sex Marriage.
Jim Wallace at the Australian Christian Lobby has spoken about the Internet Filter blocking Same-Sex Marriage websites. I hope this does not happen and the real history of our struggles through civilizations is not ignored and censored. Penny Wong, a practicing Christian who by her words attends Church on a regular basis, has been a big supporter of the Internet filter. I hope she does not tell lies about our history as she has done about Same-Sex Marriage.
August 2nd, 2010 @ 2:51 pm
Nothing has changed under Labor because of rising living costs, debt up to our head, sky-rocketting regulations and Labor getting “kick-backs” from the anti-gay Hillsong Christian Taliban.
VOTE 1 GREENS!