Anti-marriage crowd small
Reid Labor MP John Murphy, Queensland independent Bob Katter, the Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce, the Democratic Labor Party Senator John Madigan and Liberal MP Kevin Andrews have shared a stage with a far right American conservative who claims same-sex marriage could lead to child-paedophile marriage at an anti-same-sex marriage rally at Parliament House today.
US conservative commentator Rebecca Hagelin reportedly told a crowd of a few hundred people who had paid $30 a head to attend the event that if same-sex marriage were legalised then “anything … could be called marriage” – using the examples of group marriages and marriage between children and paedophiles.
Hagelin said there was “no greater evil” in the world than supporters of same-sex marriage and that they were engaging in a “war for the future of the human race”.
Senator Madigan continued with the military motif, telling opponents of same-sex marriage that they were “at war” and needed to fight battles – while those who stood silent were complicit.
Murphy, who was recently chastised by a Labor branch president in his own electorate for failing to seek the views of constituents and telling ALP supporters of marriage equality to leave the party, told the rally that “not all relationships are equal,” and that the only poll he cared about “is the federal Election”.
Responding to Murphy’s comments, the president of that ALP branch, Gina Wilson told the Star Observer, “His comments to the National Marriage Coalition rally in Canberra brings not only himself into disrepute as a homophobic bully but attempts to paint those within the ALP who do hold Human Rights as preeminent as a noisy minority.
“It would be a blessing to both the ALP and to me if [John] would pack up shop and join the Democratic Labor Party.
Wilson said if Murphy did not lose preselection, he would “certainly lose the seat for Labor”.
Katter, who auctioned his hat for $2700 for charity at the rally in opposition to same-sex marriage, told the crowd, “Gay is one of the most beautiful words … no-one should have the right to take that word off us.
“Truly this proposition deserves to be laughed at and ridiculed. It doesn’t serve any serious treatment.”
Joyce (pictured) claimed his four daughters would be affected if same sex marriage was allowed but did not explain whether he meant that same-sex marriage would turn them into lesbians or whether there would simply not be enough blokes left to marry them.
“We know that the best protection for those girls is that they get themselves into a secure relationship with a loving husband and I want that to happen for them,” Joyce said.
Kevin Andrews claimed that letting same-sex couples into the institution of marriage would destroy it.
Three days prior to the event thousands more supporters of marriage equality rallied in capital cities around the country.
Checking numbers, papers reported an attendance of 1100 at the event. More than a few hundred, but really not an earth shattering number. I think the true issue here, is it by no means was represenatative of the majority views of Australians. The sponsoring bodies were really a few interlocked conservative Christian organisations with very little popular support. More importantly, the extremist views of people like Rebecca Hagelin were widely condemned. Joyce and Katter are similarly at the edges, even in Australian conservative circles. This rally was, and remains unrepresentative of mainstream Australian views that by a significant majority support equal rights for all members of our society regardless of race, colour or sexual orientation.
But we have a real democracy, and while we may not agree with them, it is a healthy society that supports disparate views.
Oh look at the nasty poison coming from the tongues of the Christian fundamentalist haters. If the Kingdom of Heaven is filled with love, then I doubt these people would find a place in it!
President Obama 2009
“Forty years ago, patrons and supporters of the Stonewall Inn in New York City resisted police harassment that had become all too common for members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. Out of this resistance, the LGBT rights movement in America was born.
“LGBT Americans have made, and continue to make, great and lasting contributions that continue to strengthen the fabric of American society. There are many well-respected LGBT leaders in all professional fields, including the arts and business communities. LGBT Americans also mobilized the Nation to respond to the domestic HIV/AIDS epidemic and have played a vital role in broadening this country’s response to the HIV pandemic.
“I am proud to be the first President to appoint openly LGBT candidates to Senate-confirmed positions in the first 100 days of an Administration.
“The LGBT rights movement has achieved great progress, but there is more work to be done. In the last four decades legislation has been enacted in many states to ensure that we hold our most dear American Promise: that we are all equal under the law. However, no state provides full legal equality to guarantee that each person is treated equally independently of sexual orientation or gender identity and expression.”
I tend to agree with Jan Armstrong about the rainbow collectives having a nasty streak when you scratch below the surface.
Who knew when I stumbled upon this site that I’d be scoring
thumbs down for supporting traditional marriage!
My, how the worm has turned since the Gays commandeered the word ‘gay’.
You poor saps are hardly happy.
Long live traditional marriage.
_garth
The hate rally against Marriage was poorly attened, and although some haters tried to get people to kill us, perhaps you and they can learn from one of your champions. A Christian who has gained a higher office, and respect, then anyone at the hate rally.
“To penalise someone because of their sexual orientation is like what used to happen to us; to be penalised for something which we could do nothing [about] — our ethnicity, our race. I would find it quite unacceptable to condemn, persecute a minority that has already been persecuted.” Nobel Peace Prize winner and Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
What a joke this piece of “reporting” is! There were easily over 1000 people at this rally, standing room only, ordinary mums and dads that are sick of a very vocal minority group in society trying to dictate their skewed ‘morality’ onto the rest of us.
However, the gay rights rally that happened shortly before was covered heavily by the “lamestream” media and yet there were only literally a handful of people loitering about with a few placards – there were probably more media there than SSM rally participants.
Get a grip – you can spit all the vitriol you like about these elected officials, but it just shows your insecurity. And why do you want to be married anyway? It’s not about equality or about the desire to see a better stronger society. It’s just the opposite.
As one of your champions, lesbian Paula Ettrick put it “Being queer means pushing the parameters of sex, sexuality, and family, and in the process, transforming the very fabric of society… As a lesbian, I am fundamentally different from non-lesbian women… In arguing for the right to legal marriage, lesbians and gay men would be forced to claim that we are just like heterosexual couples, have the same goals and purposes, and vow to structure our lives similarly… We must keep our eyes on the goals of providing true alternatives to marriage and of radically reordering society’s views of reality.”
Unfortunately, after reading the comments on this site, I’ve come to the conclusion that the gay people here have quite a nasty streak…maybe acquired over the years due to the treatment they have received. The gay people I have met over the years have had a positive outlook on life and all had a great sense of humour. However, both sides of the debate need to express their feelings about “gay marriage” without being insulted during the process.
This would be laughable if it were not for the power some of these people are quite probably going to wield in the not too far distant future. I am appalled that any mainstream party in this country could stoop so low as to invite a Bible-thumping, bigoted, closed-minded, neanderthal to address them in our parliament. Why is it that such fundamentalist religious people somehow seem to think they don’t actually need to mount any sort of credible argument? What a seriously saddening day for Australian politics.
It’s bad enough that the right wing (Malcolm excepted) believe that climate change is “crap”, but to allow a loony-tune such as that a platform to equate that gay marriage will open the way one day to paedophiles marrying children, with not even a suggestion of where the link is, is frankly a despicable insult to the whole Australian population, gay and straight alike. What a shameful display on the national stage!
I’m getting sick of my hard earned taxes going to pay for these dangerous lunatics. So our money is good enough for you but not us! How do we go about pulling our taxes from a government that does not care? The fact that this rally was held in Parliament House is even worse. Our politicians have blood on their hands.
What a total embarresment these people are to this country. I dont see that the remainder fo the world with Labor Governments who have introduced same-sex marriage have fallen apart or had any negative impact at all. If these people want to live in a bubble then send them to Christmas Island where they can set up their own Government and not take the considerable tax I pay as a salary – hang on, how about my choice of not paying the considerable tax I pay and giving it to homophobic schools and bigoted politicians?
Mocha
Can you please start contributing to society by not branding people with your hate and asking them to follow you to Hell.
Rebecca HAGelin = stark raving loon and US bible thumper. The best friends of our Liberal Party. As for Katter, he’s Pauline Hanson take 2, complete with a lousy political party that nobody will vote for.
What would the world be in future if same sex marriage is allowed. Child will be raised by two mums or two dads – so which one is the dad, which one is the mum? Why do we allow our social values to go down the drain?
If one chooses to have a relationship with same gender, it’s their own choice. You can call it whatever but it is simply not a marriage.
The bigots are getting frightened because they know they are eventually going to lose. Expect more noise from the bleaters people. Some of those comments, especially Barnaby Clown Joyce’s, were hilarious. Katter has always been a bigot and frankly he’s quite insane.
Im thinking i might with-hold my taxes for a few years, and i pay alot of tax. More of us should do the same. Fuck them, they wanna take our money then we get equal treatment. Simple.
This is why I vote Green!
Labor, Liberal, and Katter and the National Party are trying to get people to kill us!
How’s about I sacredly institute ya face?
Seriously, how are these even arguments? Are these people insane?
‘No greater evil’ in the world, really? So apparently being in love with someone of the same sex is worse than war, poverty, disease, famine, natural disasters… Who knew?
Seriously, don’t these people have anything better to do? Why not go out and fight real evil? Sheeeeeeesh.
Yewww…If I ever visit canberra again I must remember to bring a nosepeg… the stench of bile must be pouring out of parliament house …what kind of dinosaurs have we elected??? Those words are going to offend thousands… deeply.
how disgusting, just let people live there own lives we need equality now !!!!!