Julia Gillard’s change of heart for marriage equality “worthless”: PFLAG’s Shelley Argent
Image: For Australian PM Julia Gillard has changed her mind on marriage equality.
A LEADING advocate for LGBTI rights and marriage equality has criticised former Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s about-face turn on marriage equality, saying that her words were now “worthless” and that she used the wellbeing of the LGBTI community as “a pawn”.
Gillard’s revelation last night that she now supports marriage equality, provoked a mixed bag of reactions from the LGBTI and wider communities, with some welcoming her change of heart while many criticised the announcement as “too little, too late”.
"Julia Gillard has revealed she has changed her mind about same-sex marriage."
Maybe just a tad too late.http://t.co/eyMtMkhwwF#auspol
— Senthorun Raj (@senthorun) August 26, 2015
Oh, @JuliaGillard, couldn’t you have changed your mind a bit earlier? #marriageequality https://t.co/uJHOFE9KOE
— Steve Dow (@dowsteve) August 26, 2015
Australia’s first female PM, who once drew the ire of many marriage equality supporters and was seen as responsible for holding the issue back during her time in office, announced her change of heart at the Michael Kirby Lecture at Victoria University.
At Vic Uni to honour Michael Kirby. My speech on reform and why Parliament must vote "Yes' for marriage equality. https://t.co/VrM8dDg8MV JG
— Julia Gillard (@JuliaGillard) August 26, 2015
The former PM also used her speech to level a critique at current PM Tony Abbott’s desire to see the issue voted on by the public by way of a plebiscite or referendum.
“What is motivating me is the sense of concern I have developed over the last few weeks about the proposal to have a plebiscite or referendum on same sex marriage,” Gillard said.
“I am genuinely troubled about this proposal’s potential long term ramifications for our democracy and its capacity to sustain reform.
“As we all know, there is no logical reason for having such a vote on same sex marriage. No constitutional change is actually needed. No referendum has been required in the past to change the Marriage Act. No plebiscite was seen as necessary when the traditional approach to marriage was changed through the introduction of no-fault divorce.”
She said Abbott’s push to hold a public vote on marriage equality would send a message to the country that the ability of politicians to manage these issues would be “inadequate”.
“With no logic to support it, the only foundation stone for the idea of a plebiscite or referendum is an appeal to the all too popular sentiment that politicians are inadequate, that their decision making is somehow deficient,” Gillard said.
“If, much against my views about what is best for our nation, a plebiscite or referendum is held on same sex marriage, then as a voter, I would certainly cast my ballot in favour of same-sex marriage.”
With a view to not changing the “old” institution of marriage combined with a concern from “a gender perspective with traditional marriage” based on her self-confessed 1970s feminist beliefs, Gillard had previously argued against marriage equality, stating her desire to see “something new” created with civil unions for both heterosexual and same-sex couples.
“However, in the years since, the debate has quickly moved on, and the claim for civil unions has been discarded in favour of a campaign for same sex marriage,” she said in her speech.
“In my time post-politics as key countries have moved to embrace same sex marriage, I have identified that my preferred reform direction was most assuredly not winning hearts and minds.”
One commentator on Twitter condemned Gillard’s reference to her past feminist views.
https://twitter.com/HelenRazer/status/636482055782567936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Speaking to the Star Observer, Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) national spokesperson Shelley Argent — who, along with other advocates including Australian Marriage Equality national director Rodney Croome, met with Gillard in 2012 with hopes to persuade her — said her comments now were “worthless”.
“Personally, I think she always believed in marriage equality but being a politician she played the game well,” Argent said.
“Additionally, her comments now are worthless and mean nothing. She had her chance and could have made a real difference but allowed herself to use the wellbeing of LGBTI couples as a pawn while she was in power.
“She lost and so did the LGBTI couples. As a parent of a gay male her revelation is very disappointing.”
Argent’s criticism of Gillard appears to represent a majority view of many in the LGBTI community and other marriage equality supporters, who said it was disappointing that she was in a position to bring about change but refused to.
@JuliaGillard changes her mind on Same Sex Marriage. Shame she left it until after she could do something about it https://t.co/ayQ4fPMwZb
— Fran Kelly (@frankelly08) August 26, 2015
@JuliaGillard Conversion? Road ? Damascus ? A bit late…
— Mike Carlton (@MikeCarlton01) August 26, 2015
However, Croome welcomed the former PM’s change of heart.
“We welcome Julia Gillard’s decision because it shows that even the most high profile opponents of marriage equality can open their hearts to the reform,” he said.
“But we urge other political leaders not to wait until it is too late for them to show leadership in parliament, as Ms Gillard has done.”
Openly-gay South Australian Labor Senator Penny Wong also welcomed Gillard’s new found support for marriage equality.
“Julia led a government committed to reducing discrimination against LGBTI Australians.” Wong said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Opposition Leader Tanya Plibersek took to social media to praise Gillard.
[showads ad=FOOT]Wonderful speech https://t.co/Hx1qSBCEnr
— Tanya Plibersek (@tanya_plibersek) August 26, 2015
Gutless then, now out of office – she can say whatever she likes – without the ACL, Catholic Church and the Shoppies Union over her shoulders, when she was in power! Vote 1 Greens!
Julia finally gained the confidence to “out” herself in support of marriage equality. Good on her!
Typical Ju-liar!
Too little, too late Julia! That is why I vote 1 Greens!
I heard a story from friends that Bill Shorten, drunk at their friend’s wedding, slurry speech and all, said “So How are the Spice Girls?”. At least Gillard is ready to change like Bill did. It is now 2015, and who would of thought that Fairfax now argues for equality. I remember huge headlines demanding a Chef get sacked who had AIDS. The Victoria Police Media Unit has lied and changed the brutal history of the Tasty Night Club raid on Wikipedia, as the force is now ashamed of what they did. The police seldom belt the shit of out of us, or your partner dies, demand you hand everything over to relatives are risk getting charged, and some of us are now police! To be homophobic and transphobic, is thankfully, becoming the new racism. Some Church leaders are throffing mad that they get given a hard time,, when these were the guys throwing us under a buss when the community wanted us legal. So what of Tony Abbott, and his assertion Lesbian love is counterfeit, or the irony of arguing marriage is about raising children, when he had to have a genetic test on a potential love child? What about good old Fred Nile marrying again without intending to have children? Clearly making babies is nothing to do with being married, we have Tony Abbott to prove it. How did his unmarried cock end up trying to make babies? The times are a changen, for some, while others remain in a time capsule next to our first act of our Oz parliament, the White Australia Policy. It could be said the Liberal party is changing. The Nationals and the ACL now write their policy, and they have no free vote. So if Gillard can now say she supports equality, better late than never eh Tony?
It is funny when they leave politics and the Parliament and have no power, they now support something (e.g. marriage equality or medical usage of cannabis)!
The gutless labor party!
Vote Greens if you want people who stick by their convictions.