Gay Liberal senator Dean Smith supports marriage equality after change of heart
GAY Liberal federal politician Dean Smith has declared his public support for marriage equality, changing his position in the wake of Tori Johnson’s death during the Sydney siege.
Speaking to Fairfax Media, Smith said knowing that Johnson was killed before he was able to marry his partner of 14 years — if he had wanted to — caused him to be “overcome with sadness”.
Smith made his opposition to marriage equality public in 2012 when he was sworn in as a Western Australian senator, becoming the first openly-gay federal MP in the Liberal Party.
Advocates have congratulated Smith on his change of heart, saying his argument for doing so shows how marriage equality can be compatible with conservative values.
“Senator Smith has put forward the most compelling case yet for a Coalition free vote on marriage equality by pointing out that heroes like Tori Johnson should not be treated like second-class citizens,” Australian Marriage Equality national director Rodney Croome said.
“Senator Smith’s change of heart is also compelling because of his strong record in defence of traditional values. He is effectively saying to his colleagues that allowing same-sex couples to marry upholds family values and tradition rather than undermining them.”
Despite his only recent change of heart, Smith has lobbied within his party for a conscience vote on marriage equality for several years, believing a free vote to be in line with the values of the party.
Only a small number of Liberal Party MPs have publicly stated their support for marriage equality, and Smith said a parliamentary vote on the issue should wait until there is broader consensus.
Smith is known to be staunchly conservative, a devout Christian and a monarchist.
Do not be fooled by this stupidly vote-grabbing stunt of a thought bubble cleaver tactic by the Labor and Liberal mobs! We as LGBTI voters are being toyed and played with like a sex toy!
A gay man voting/supporting the homophobic Liberal Party – is just like a Jew voting/supporting the anti-Jew Nazi Party!
The Liberal Party are ANYTHING BUT Liberal!
We must welcome all politicians support marriage equality – the only way to win is to have a majority of politicians voting in favour.
We are diverse and belong everywhere – there are lesbians in the National Party and gay men in the Liberal party.
If you think I am impressed by the expression of one reasonable idea, from a man in a party seething with white elitist fascist war mongering climate destroying persecutory bullshit ideas. YOU ARE WRONG.
Only a twisted demented self loathing gay with zero intellectual integrity would belong to that party. Go to hell you vandalising war monger, and please turn straight. Floor your leader and auction your Arse on eBay.
If you think I am impressed by the expression of one reasonable idea, from a man in a party seething with white elitist fascist war mongering climate destroying persecutory bullshit ideas. YOU ARE WRONG.
On a twisted demented self loathing gay would belong to that party. Go to hell you vandalising war monger, and please turn straight.
He and Tim Wilson are game changers, I may not agree with their politics but they have seen the light! Well done!
UNCLE TOM
Sorry Dean , don’t want your support.
cheers darls XX
Better late than never, Kevin Rudd was the same and various other politicians on both sides (Labor and Liberal)!
I know gay marriage will not be possible within Australia until at least 2020 the way things are going politically and socially!
Better late than never, but what worries me is that he has been so out of touch on this issue, what else is he not up to speed on?
Thanks Tori. Oxo
Good for him.
There is no good reason to deny that we must keep evolving until an adult, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, monogamy or polyamory, race, or religion is free to share love, sex, residence, and marriage (and any of those without the others) with any and all consenting adults. Polyamory, polygamy, open relationships are not for everyone, but they are for some. The limited same-gender freedom to marry is a great and historic step, but is NOT full marriage equality, because equality “just for some” is not equality. Let’s stand up for EVERY ADULT’S right to marry the person(s) they love. Get on the right side of history!
If Dean is genuine I support him 100%
If he’s using this tragedy for political reasons
Tacky, opportunistic and sadly he’s just as f…..ed up as that other gay right winger
How low can we go in this country with such greedy and selfish politicians
Ugh ugh ugh
Hope he’s a good guy.
He and Tim Wilson are controversial , i agree however they are game-changers and should be applauded.
i despise their politics but welcome this move.
Now let’s hope they stop playing identity politics with the community and initiate real change in policy and that law to marry..
well done!!
What a pathetic little man. He should have got out into his constituency – the whole of Western Australia – long ago and found that marriage equality has vast majority support. It is a tragedy that it’s taken a man’s murder to change “the mind of this “staunchly conservative, devoutly Christian monarchist”.
How can it be a tragedy to have someone start supporting equality? That’s what we’d like everyone to do!