Marriage equality un-Australian: Gillard

Marriage equality un-Australian: Gillard

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has declared that marriage rights for same-sex couples are incompatible with Australian culture and heritage one day after hundreds demanded their rights in Sydney and Brisbane.

“I do find myself on the conservative side in this question … because of the way our society is and how we got here,” Gillard told Sky News on Sunday.

“There are some important things from our past that need to continue to be part of our present and part of our future.”

When asked if she was expressing a personal view or what she thought Australians wanted to hear, Gillard said she would have said the same thing had she never entered politics, pitching herself as a social conservative.

“I had a pro-union pro-Labor upbringing in a quite conservative family in the sense of personal values,” Gillard said.

“If I was in a different walk of life, if I’d continued in the law and was a partner of a law firm now, I would express the same view.

“I think for our culture, for our heritage, the Marriage Act and marriage being between a man and a woman has a special status … I know that people might look at me and think that’s something that they wouldn’t necessarily expect me to say but that is what I believe.

“I’m on the record as saying things like I think it’s important that people understand their Bible stories. Not because I’m an advocate of religion — clearly I’m not — but once again, what comes from the Bible has formed such an important part of our culture.”

Only the day before crowds of around 400 gathered at the Sydney Town Hall before marching to Taylor Square and in Brisbane’s Queen Park.

In Sydney, speakers from New Mardi Gras, Australian Marriage Equality urged people to contact their MPs and lobby them directly, while Greens MLC Cate Faehrmann warned of the danger of a conservative-controlled Upper House after the NSW state election.

“The influence of people like Fred Nile and the Christian Democratic party may only get stronger after this election,” Faehrmann said.

“What we’re hearing is that not only will the Coalition probably win government but they may also win control of the Upper House with the support of the Christian Democratic Party and the Shooters and Fishers. The only way to stop that is to make sure that everyone you know votes progressive in the Upper House. That’s probably more important than what you do with your Lower House vote.”

Faehrmann and Sydney MP Clover Moore both pledged to introduce legislation to create marriage equality at a state level if the federal Government failed to act.

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58 responses to “Marriage equality un-Australian: Gillard”

  1. Gillard is nothing more than a puppet on string manipulated by the back room boys. Religion is organised and we are relatively fractured. Our leaders need to reflect with a little more intent than naval gazing, and re-enforcing what may be deemed by the majority of the rank and file as self-perpetuating coteries. She is acting on a pro-religious lobby viewed by the back-room lads as strategic in a number of seats. In this scenario we are mere pawns.

    The wider agenda here is organised religion pushing for power of State. Minorities tend not to do well in such arrangements, not to mention economies.

    An allegiance to any one political party is self-defeating in the marriage lobby; the socially conservative elements of Liberal party (with strong allegiance to organised religion) have successfully used this issue as a wedge between greens and labor. A lemming approach to the greens that are readily associated with fiscal armageddon is dumb. If we are to define our gaggle as ‘Community’, then part of that definition should be inclusive of those whom are of same sex attraction across perceived political divides.

  2. i guess julia living in SIN in her ” non traditional de-facto relationship” is a separate issue according to the bible she refers to. Lets face it this woman is just another desperate politician willing to say whatever he thinks will get her re-elected when the time comes and she needs the numbers

    She wont ever get my vote!!

  3. If it’s true that she believes that the bible stories should be the basis of our society then she must be willing to be placed in front of a wall and be stoned to death –
    – she holds a job – only a man is allowed to earn income,
    – she wears cloth of two different types,
    – she lives in sin and chooses to have sex with a man that is not
    her husband,
    – she has not borne children to honour her husband and her family,
    – she has failed her father by not allowing herself to be owned by
    another man by marriage

    Make up your mind Gillard – be a bible basher or dont be a bible basher but dont you dare quote it just to suit a political argument.

  4. I came from a small Welsh town and was sent to Sunday school at my local chapel and I have absolutely no idea what bible stories tuaght her to be so un-christian to LGBT people. What awful bible stories was she taught as a child to hate gay people so much. She’s about my age, my parents were Welsh labour voters…what happenned to her…I guess I became a normal person and she a politician. I think my best bet is to return to my old un homophobic Welsh town and let the UK bring in marriage equality long before Australia. What a let down…I thought the UK was the old traditionist conservative country not Australia..

  5. Her Bible and cultural interpretations are as false as the dyed red hair.

  6. If she believes in traditional values then divorce should be outlawed, seeing as marriage is defined as being between a man & a woman FOREVER.

    It’s pretty obvious she’s just saying this to get Christian/bogan votes, first the internet filter, now this crap, what next?

    I cannot believe how backwards we are.

  7. More and more of us are voting Green, but somehow we must get our families and friends to do the same. I think they will if we ask them. Start now “share” this story on facebook. I did and I have swung votes already.

    And please, wave black flags at Juliar whereever she goes. Curse her with black flags if front of those t.v. cameras she worships. Bring on the black flags.

  8. What a nasty person this womamn has become. She is the one being un-Australian in denying a fair go to same sex people. Is it Australian to be homophobic? If it is we need to change Julia and change Australia as quickly as possible.

  9. Australia’s cultural heritage has been one of adaption and change throughout the country’s history. From colonialization, to universal suffrage, the eradication of the White Australia policy through to our first Prime Minister in a de facto relationship, Australia has demonstrated that it wishes to be a country which embraces diversity and change. Australia’s subscription to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights demonstrates this.

    Australian’s believe in a fair go for all. Two people in love have the right for that love to be recognised by the Government in the same manner as any other couple. And that includes the entire spectrum of sexuality; marriage should be a right of all loving couples, regardless of gender identity.

  10. I voted for you Julia in anticipation of equality. As the “first ” woman of power , I’d hoped you would understand what it was like NOT to be an ” equal” in 2011. ” traditional” Values???? In what century are you referring???? I regret my vote for you as do most of us under the rainbow umbrella. Your personal and professional attitude towards gay and lesbian has secured votes that won’t be posted in your favour. And you only just slipped in by the skin of your teeth last time…..

  11. who is this woman and why isn’t she at home married and raising babies. Why is she also taking important jobs from men. She obviously can”t be that serious about following Australia’s long held traditions

  12. What a disgrace. The Labor Party just keep sinking lower and lower. Hope to see you all at the rally for Same Sex Marriage this Saturday if you’re in Melbourne.

  13. There is hope. Julia is finished.

    Never forget both her and Abbott have the power to free us, the people would follow. But they both choose not to. Vote green and start stitching those black flags. QUICK.

  14. Moving forward to move backwards to move forward to move backwards.

    Clearly the Bible lessons taught Gillard how to be stupid also!

  15. Gillard is incompatible with Australian culture… which is internationally known as extremely gay-friendly. That’s why we had a priscilla float at the opening ceremony to the Sydney Olympics. Waaay back over a decade ago. Out of touch much?

  16. First things first, Julia Gillard needs to prove the existence of Jesus before she tells us to follow his lessons.

    And although it is true Gillard could still be nasty as a solicitor had she not been Prime Minister, she does not seem to understand the difference between the Australian Constitution and the Bible.

    Perhaps our visiting Royal can sack her? Perhaps she can go back to school as she has a very poor education.

  17. Traditional values? is it still the 1950s? then what the hell is she doing running the country? Gays should have every right to have half their stuff taken and never have sex again.

  18. If I can get married, as a non religious straight woman to a non religious man, in a civil ceremony outside of a church and with no religious influence whatsoever and still have it be legal, then to me the institution of marriage is no longer a religious thing, but a legal one.

    You may choose to involve religion in your marriage, and if some churches or temples or mosques do not want to perform same sex marriages then so be it, that’s their call.

    But don’t deny the right to let gay couples get married on the basis that it is a religious standpoint unless you want to deny the right of people to get married outside of a religion as well.

    Rhi

  19. Julia darling. It’s no wonder, with statements like these, that Labor is losing it’s traditional (and substantial) gay voter base to The Greens. Just so you can appease those pesky marginal voters. BARF!

  20. Here’s an idea, Miss Gillard: let’s stop interracial marriages taking place. And let’s stop letting women voting (that puts you out of a job, I’m afraid), and how about we go back to owning slaves (my kitchen could sure use one)? Oh, and can we lock up everyone with red hair? They’re in a minority, so they deserved to be treated like dirt.

    What is the point of a law that can’t change and move with the times? The essence of the law ought to be equality for all people, regardless of race, background, gender, sexual identity, or anything else.

  21. Amusingly the same “conservative values” which Gillard uses to excuse her discriminatory position also advocated that the good little woman stay at home and do housework, and women who had sex outside of marriage were little more than sluts.

    Amazingly Gillard can see past those aspects of her “conservative values” as she goes about her role as PM and lives in a de facto relationship – and if anyone dares to question that they are howled down as sexist and out of touch with modern life.

    A shame that the mainstream media do not see fit to hold Gillard to task over this.

  22. “Because of the way our society is and how we got there”

    She is really saying, we built Australia and we did it all by our own heterosexual efforts.

    We straights in our past heritage, rendered Gay’s silent and invisible throughout Australia’s history, ripped off their pink taxes and gave it to heterosexual, married citizens.

    I have known through my life, many brave Gay’s who saved this country from invasion and worked to keep Australia safe while its citizens slept at night and are still doing that.

    What she is saying is no doubt pleasing to the ACL but is ignorant of Gay history and our part in this great countries heritage building.

    Julia Gillard has lied to us and cheapened our wonderful heritage.

    Gillard is like a John Wayne movie. John won WWII all on his own it seems.

  23. An appallingly weak line of reasoning from Gillard. What IS Australian Culture anyway? I was born and bred here and Gillard’s “culture” couldn’t be further from mine. The government says we are an accepting and generous country, giving a fair go to all and we are… as long as you’re straight, white and read the bible. Disappointing on so many levels.

  24. Target the federal seat of Sydney and that’ll get their attention. Labor have had enough support from the Gay community, time that changed

  25. I’m with Mike, but am loathe to think of Australians as a Christian culture.

    Sure, the majority of our population is descended from cultures with a mainly Christian population, however our country has been one of immigrants for a good number of years – surely THAT part of our culture and history should force the Government and lawmakers to update to be neutral to other cultures’ beliefs instead of exclusive.

    Knowing one’s Bible stories? Surely there’s other stories that have helped shape our nation that have nothing to do with a religious book that could be taught to better illustrate the morals and ethics expected of our youth?

    As a straight non-Christian, I support equality in all forms – saying that we need to remain “conservative” with certain parts of our past is as good as saying, “We’re sticking with tradition, regardless of whether it impedes the progress and growth of our nation.”

  26. Women used to only be in the kitchen, maybe because that’s how it always was that’s how it should be??

    Weak arguement Gillard. Just because it’s a traditional view doesn’t mean it’s the right one or that it’s still the same.

  27. I wonder if she expects people from non-Christian cultures to understand Bible stories?

    What a load of tosh.