Marriage equality “not the be all and end all” says new gay NSW Liberal MP

Marriage equality “not the be all and end all” says new gay NSW Liberal MP
Image: Shayne Mallard is the NSW Parliament's newest addition of openly-gay MPs.

THERE is too much focus on same-sex marriage and not enough on other issues affecting the LGBTI and wider community, one of the new intake of openly-gay MPs in NSW Parliament has told the Star Observer.

In an interview to mark his swearing in as an upper house MP, the Liberal’s Shayne Mallard said he wouldn’t rule out an Abbott government legislating for marriage equality while job losses should be a key focus in the upcoming review of the NSW’s controversial lockouts laws.

The comments come as Labor’s Penny Sharpe, who has been credited with persuading NSW opposition leader Luke Foley to support marriage equality, officially returned to the upper house following her unsuccessful tilt at the LGBTI-centric electorate of Newtown in Sydney’s inner west.

Brought up in western Sydney, Mallard is a former state president of the Young Liberals and served as a councillor on South Sydney and then City of Sydney councils for 12 years from 2000.

In 2012, he lost to independent Alex Greenwich for the Sydney electorate by-election while Lord Mayor Clover Moore defeated Mallard twice for the city’s top job.

Yet when he entered NSW Parliament, Mallard was initially placed in Moore’s former diggings which she was forced to give up after the Coalition backed a Shooters Party policy to ban mayors and councillors from also being MPs.

“I always wanted Clover’s office and I finally got it,” he laughed.

Mallard’s previous roles have included running a Darlinghurst garden shop, serving as an adviser to the Liverpool mayor and, in his spare time, helping out at the catering firm owned by his partner, Danish chef Jesper Hansen.

The couple married in Copenhagen in 2013 and Mallard said his preference would have been for Australia to follow Denmark’s “two-step” approach to marriage equality.

“I thought we’d go civil unions and the full hog later when they’d seen the church halls hadn’t fallen down crushing us all,” he said.

But with the US on the brink of legalising same-sex marriage nationwide — which Mallard believes would be “a game changer for Australia” — he has called for his colleagues in to be given a free vote on the issue.

“That includes releasing cabinet ministers from the obligation to support cabinet, it should be a conscience vote across the board,” he said.

Yet, if he had been an MP in 2013 Mallard said he would have voted against the marriage equality bill that came before the NSW parliament.

“That’s not because I’m a contradiction… but this was clearly a federal issue, you’ve got to have consistent marriage laws,” he said, highlighting how separate NSW laws would’ve prevented that.

He also defended the slow progress of many in his party, including the prime minister, to embrace same-sex marriage.

“They need to be convinced that changing an institution that serves us well doesn’t radically change our society,” Mallard said.

“So they make you go through hoops before they agree and that’s the innate definition of conservatism.”

So, could he see Tony Abbott eventually coming round?

Mallard hesitated: “I can’t rule it in or out.”

“When Nixon recognised China, that’s when it moved from being a radical proposition to OK,” he added.

Mallard said he lamented the focus on marriage while wider issues that also affected the LGBTI community, such as public housing, were rarely discussed.

“It’s an important issue but it’s not the be all and end all of our political existence,” he said.

“Gay and lesbian friends of mine are just as interested in the proceeds of poles and wires being invested constructively.”

Last week Mallard’s old council, the City of Sydney, called for the police to apologise for heavy-handedness at the very first Mardi Gras in 1978.

While he acknowledged a sorry from the force could aid in the healing process, Mallard said he does not “personally see an apology as a priority”.

“I think they’ve demonstrated through their actions they support the community,” he said, citing the police’s inclusion in the Mardi Gras parade and the ranks of gay and lesbian liaison officers.

Mallard first met his future husband at Darlinghurst bar Stonewall in 2001.

“I’d been at a dinner and I remember getting there very late and I met Jesper about two or three but if the lockout laws [were in place] we would probably never would have met each other,” he said.

While the controversial laws had sent a strong message that violence would not be tolerated, Mallard said he would be keen to be involved with a review of the laws amid claims by local businesses the lockouts are sending them to the wall.

“I’m concerned about job losses and the issue of what it means to be a global city if you can’t go to bars at one in the morning with guests,” he said.

“It’ll be interesting… whether or not we select certain locations for a trial opening up a bit.”

Mallard said his passions included the environment, heritage and transport.

“I’m probably the highest profile, right-of-centre, pro-cycling MP in NSW,” Mallard said.

Had that led to debates with a number of notoriously anti-cycleway Liberals?

“I’ve had those arguments, don’t you worry,” he said.

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67 responses to “Marriage equality “not the be all and end all” says new gay NSW Liberal MP”

  1. This is a key step to acceptance. I know growing up as a kid, knowing I was gay, and seeing the culture of how even the IDEA of being gay was treated – it was terrifying. This is far more important than just a legality.

  2. I agree with him! Marriage equality is not the only issue and we as a community shot ourselves in the foot ignoring everything else! The struggle and fight should be for a 100% full lgbtiq equality with heterosexuals including marriage ! The only thing I’d like the new member to remember is that the equality in rights does not mean that we will leave marriage till last because it can cost a party the elections for a few years! But we need to work on all fronts at the same time – there are things that we can achieve faster than others but we will fight for all of our rights at the same time – we need focus groups that will specialise on each separate issue so that our fight is strong, influential and meaningful! Organisations such as Mardi Gras need to also reassume its historic role, not only one parade and party a year but working with the community on our issues! Frankly the party and parade is on its death path unless MG does something! Become relevant again!

  3. Like abolishing Intersex ‘Normalisation’ Surgery on infants, and legal recognition of Non-Binary People? Those things would sure be nice!

  4. Tony Abbott as health minister, banned doctors accommodation when on rotation in country areas, unless they could produce a marriage certificate. The award was Federal. My husband and I were not married then, and so we did not go to the country hospital. We can talk about lots of things other then marriage, such as how a twisted Liberal Party could have a leader who would demand gay partners wait in the car as not to cause offence. If we are not to talk about marriage, we can certainly talk about why the Prime Minister still feels threatened by being in public with the Ambassadors partner at an official event in France.

  5. The leader of his party keeps sending the message that out contributions as citizens of this country are meaningless because of our sexuality. I call bullshit on his statement.

    • I agree Wayne. Plibersek would be better supporting a conscious vote. The other day I met a young man who is only 18 from Brazil and he recently married his male partner. The way he just said this is my husband. Blew me away. I mean so completely normal in his society and culture

  6. Sorry for the faux pas… He is the ***Epitome*** of the Stockholm Syndrome Liberal.

  7. Shayne Mallard is the epitomy of the ‘Stockholm Syndrome Gay Liberal’… In love with their right wing captors.

  8. Actually I hate to say it, but it’s true. There are many other issues effecting the GBLTI community. As much as I hate to agree with a Liberal. Youth suicide, self loathing, Trans issues. We shouldn’t take our eye’s off the big picture. Not all of us would get married even if we could. I simply find it an unnesicary biblical construct.

  9. It’s not the only issue facing our community, certainly. However, it is one of the greatest issues in relation to enshrined discrimination, and its success will make working on other issues easier.

    You don’t need a hammer to build with wood, but it doesn’t half help.

  10. cant allow gays to marry! However channel 9 will create a tv show where complete strangers get married . All for entertainment! ! Bloody joke

  11. It is amazing that someone can devote a whole media statement about the same-sex marriage issue, which specifically chastises people for obsessing upon it. With the same-sex marriage issue obsession comes an equal and passionate parrallel support for anything but same-sex marriage, what their own political party will want to do nothing about. I am sure these other long-standing non-same-sex marriage issues will loose their couragous and inexplicably urgent advocacy when same-sex marriage is legalised.

  12. whilst I would certainly agree with Shayne that there has been ” too much focus on same-sex marriage and not enough on other issues affecting the LGBTI and wider community”, it’s odd that he would then raise privatising our publically owned power infrastructure as an example .. surely the fact that circa 80% of transgender people are currently excluded from full protection under NSW’s Anti Discrimination Act or the housing crisis faced by many LGBTI youth in a city with the highest cost of living in the world would be much better examples of the raft of other LGBTI issues of equal importance to same sex marriage .. rather than using critiquing the disproportionate focus on Marriage Equality as a convenient entree into pitching his parties privatisation agenda

  13. Tell me why this same sex marriage is more important to the GTI(gay/trans/intersex) community than full Medicare Cover for People Living with Gender Dysphoria? We have a 40% higher suicide rate than the Gay community and the lack of Medicare cover is a lot of the reason for that!

    In Australia all non married COUPLES are equal under the law, the only place couples are not equal is in the marriage laws. We are NOT THE USA!!!

    WE ARE NOT AMERICA!

    • Very true, Tess, and I think those sort of issues are what Shayne was highlighting. Marriage Equality is important, but even if we achieved marriage equality tomorrow, as you point out there are still lots of important issues for our community to tackle.

    • It’s an American Argument IMO, because defacto couples of whatever configuration in the USA don’t have anywhere near the same rights as married couples.

    • you are quite right that there is a relative dearth of legal rights and protections for people in defacto or common law marriages in many parts of the USA, Tess .. but IMO it’s a mistake to try and argue that Marriage Equality is not important to most Australian’s when all polling on this issue tells us that it is (70 – 75% support) .. it makes far more sense to simply argue for the LGBTI socio political agenda to be widened to include the myriad other issues of great importance to many of us ..as Shayne seemed to be doing before he bizarrely chose his parties neo feudal privatisation agenda as a seriously poor example of what LGBTI people would be concerned about beyond the issue of Marriage Equality

    • a good deal more than most in our community I suspect, Tess .. not that I’m overly enthusiastic about grandstanding in regard to what I do personally .. but since you asked, one example would helping to produce last years ANZPATH conference, which stated as it’s number one priority .. ” That the Governments of the States and Territories of Australia and New Zealand provide publicly funded, evidence based quality health care to the Trans* community.” http://gaynewsnetwork.com.au/news/national/anzpath-conference-a-success-15372.html .. more here http://www.anzpath.org/announcements/

    • whilst I never tire of your angry, non evidence based outbursts, Tess (irony intended) ..the ANZPATH conference was primiarily privately funded …mostly by ANZPATH members themselves

    • Kelly, I’ve spoke to many Politicians, talked on radio and push for Medicare coverage even though I had my government funded surgery years….. yes it was funded! Unlike many who run the support groups I am Diagnosed as Living with GD so I am keen to see those diagnosed have Full access to all the medical assistance they should be afforded. Undiagnosed people can never have surgery as no surgeon will operate anywhere in the world without a diagnoses.

      Throw mud at me all you want “girl” ….. it doesn’t stick.

    • yes, I am well aware that you think you are morally superior to other trans people because you were “diagnosed” years ago, Tess ..but many of us have moved on from those outmoded and intrinsically opressive narratives of Trans Pathologicalzation and Trans Elitism which were sadly so popular back in the 1970’s and 80’s .. as have the bodies which represent the mental health professionals who work most closely with our community … learn more here http://www.stp2012.info/old/en .. WPATH and ANZPATH are fact is working with us to lobby the World Health Organisation to depathologize “Transsexualism” in the ICD 11 (learn more here http://www.wpath.org/uploaded_files/140/files/ICD%20Meeting%20Packet-Report-Final-sm.pdf)

    • I guess you tell your GP your own diagnoses as well.

      Moving on is not always a good thing when you ignore the work of professionals who have years of experience in the field.
      Just because the non diagnosed have highjacked the discussion and shout louder doesn’t make you right!

      People can see through the “genderless” toilet type issues just because the part timers want the same recognition as diagnosed full timers.
      It’s a recognised medical condition, not a lifestyle choice!

  14. Why are Liberal gays so afraid of change? I don’t believe in marriage as it is part of the evils of religious belief and part of their hate for anyone outside their group/church. Religion A Killing Joke.

    • No more or less than Labor. The biggest funder of Labor is the SDA union, headed by staunch catholic. Consequently on a recent party vote to oblige Labor MPs to vote for gay marriage, ca. 190 out of 400 Labor members voted against the support

  15. A gay man being in the Liberal party is akin to a Jew being in the Nazi party!

  16. Its not the be all and end all but it will certainly go a long way toward addressing other barriers faced by our community. It will make a huge difference in general wellbeing I believe.

  17. Alot of problems with the GLBT community stems from the fact they are not treated equally. Thus affecting their own self image and worth, resulting in higher suicide rates, sexual promiscuity and drug and alcohol abuse.

    Tell me again why marriage equality is not a main and important GLBT issue.

    • How can you link sexual promiscuity to inequality? Your other points have bearing but promiscuity is an individual choice, for heterosexuals too.

    • It’s a proven fact that people who don’t feel accepted or equal in a larger sense often fail to develop meaningful and long lasting personal relationships.

      This often results in the person seeking any type of acceptance or validity in short term arrangements and is normally through physical connection.

    • I will concede that it can also be by choice. However when there is such a high percentage of mental illness in the GLBT community due to identity issues it would be hard not to recognise human instinct to create any type of connection.

    • If you could provide citation for your statement I’d be interested to read it. It seems more like an opinion, and doesn’t explain “promiscuity” as a whole in society.

    • There are a couple of theories that would support this idea.

      Firstly Maslows Hierarchy of Need which suggests that acceptance and connection is pivotal to reaching self actualisation.

      The second is Freuds concept of the ID, ego and super-ego. This theory would suggest that the ego which is a balance of over thinking and unconscious thinking would function normally when a need is met. The ID however act without thought. It acts on need. If the ego is not recognising acceptance and equality then the ID acts on impulse to fill that need. Of course this works in conjunction with Freuds psychosexual theory as well. A need to be sexually active.

      Even Freuds theory of Transference could be related to the above idea.

    • You put it so well Kevin. I agree with you, there is definitely an identifying culture about it. It’s one step to change the law, and the rest grows with it.