Abbott’s sister comes out for marriage equality
Australian marriage equality advocates have welcomed news Opposition Leader Tony Abbott’s sister has come out in favour of same-sex marriage.
In an interview with The Australian newspaper, Abbott’s sister, Christine Forster, revealed she has a same-sex partner and supports a change in the Marriage Act to allow for same-sex marriage.
“I have decided to publicly confirm that I am gay and am in a committed, live-in relationship,” Forster told the newspaper.
“My brother and I have always had a strong relationship and he respects and supports me and my lifestyle choices.”
Forster is said to have had “spirited” discussions to try to change Abbott’s position on the issue.
“I’ve come to the view over the years that the only side you can take is that which tries to maintain relationships,” Abbott told The Australian.
“Getting judgemental in ways which damage relationships does no one any good.”
Australian Marriage Equality national convener Alex Greenwich said he hoped Forster’s courage in speaking out could change Abbott’s mind.
“Advocacy from loved ones is by far the most effective way of changing hearts and minds,”Greenwich said.
“Ms Forster proves the point that this reform is about the importance of family, love, and equality, not politics.
“With a clear majority of Australians supporting reform, same-sex couples are more comfortable than ever in being public and proud.”
Shouldn’t gay people have sex with straight people? I thought opposites attract!
Phil Xenos, please cease to so torment and torture the English language. Yes, we acknowledge that there are larger issues out there in society, but we at least do so with correct spelling and phraseology that does not torture the soul.
The truth is, there will always be world-spanning issues for politicians to use as a distraction from the injustices that they continue to perpetrate, either with or without the bad excuse of a religious standpoint.
Yes, the global economy is on the edge of bankruptcy. And yes, the global environmental issues generated through a changing climate and increasing population pressures are a matter of major concern.
But Mr Xenos, I would happily tolerate an ecosystem coming apart at the seams and an economy that forced me to hunt to survive if this came with the kind of social justice that the heterosexual populace takes for granted.
When we can marry like straight people, society will be recognising us as equals in a very fundamental manner. At this time, we can expect that gay bashers will get the 25-plus year prison terms that they deserve and hate-filled persons like Tony Abbott will face not standing ovations, but raised pitchforks.
So get over you, and accept that maybe we are demanding our rights at this time for a reason; namely, because there is never a better time to force someone to do what they don’t want to do.
If Abbott was to get in and do something bad against Lesbians there would be such a huge “Wail Across this Land” from hypocritical male bigots against homosexuals who would be denied their greatest joy…
Seeing so-called lesbians touching each other on those after midnight “Call Me Now” ads not to mention the hetro hardcore market riddled with lesbians to the joys of millions of straightmen..watching,fantasizing…
So before Abbott opens his trap he should think twice,as he might be stuck in the 50,s in little mind the fast majority of his hetro male admirers clearly love their lesbian porn…in private..oh and the thought of anal sex with their wives..
thanks
The planet is falling apart ,society in Europe and the USA is in crisis Depression looms large and all the “Gay” Community seems directed to talk about is “Gay Marriage’ which is a misnomer in this case would’t it be as his sister is female ,”lesbian Marriage Rights”?,tony Abbotts sister is incorrect definig herself as “Gay’ she is a Homosexual.
big deal? Ho Hum so 1980’s this definition of sexual Politics game ,its rubbish not politics at all really ,extremely limited in history and purile in achievement.
If the most important question is “Homosexual Marrage’ well guess what kids its time to get on with life and be proud chimps just like everyone else.
i really hope the reaction to this disasterous ‘Gay marriage’ Campaign dosen’t provoke a Hetrosexual pride movement,and get ready for “Gay Divorce” gee I can hardly wait for the bickering.
“I’ve come to the view over the years that the only side you can take is that which tries to maintain relationships,” Abbott told The Australian.
“Getting judgemental in ways which damage relationships does no one any good.”
So: Abbott supports equality of marriage! That can’t mean anything else!
Tony Abbott’s public position on gay marriage, not his personal compassion for his sister, is the more important issue for the Australian electorate to consider. Tony might want us to believe or to know that he is a nice person, and he may well be, but it is his political position which will determine whether we gay Australians are treated equally.
As usual, Tony wants this story to be all about him, to soften his image, whereas the real story is about his sister and her partner and their inability to get married to each other and the fact that Tony is the obstacle. This story should still be about us gay couples who are restricted to de facto status.
Tony is just a supreme narcissist.
Pity SSO ran this story with a photo of Tony Abbott.
His sister Christine is the lesbian and she is HOT.
Where is a photo of her??? I have fallen in lust. She is scrumptious.
I wonder how different Abbott’s sister’s life choices may have been if she was not hemmed in by an anti-gay conservative religion and a politically active anti-gay conservative brother.
Christine Abbott may have come out as a lesbian only 4 years ago but when photos of her with her family were run in newspapers for the last 20 years EVERY one of my friends with working GayDar said the same thing when we saw her “Tony Abbott has a dyke sister.”
If complete strangers with no contact with the family pick up on her dyke-ness from photos over the past 20 years, then no one can tell me family and those closer to her were not attuned to the same thing.
I bet they worked their butts off trying to corral her into meeting their expectations of normal!
Where do those rushing to praise Tony Abbott on this draw the line?
If Cardinal George Pell’s lesbian relative comes out in favour of gay marriage, does that magically render Pell a decent human being?
If Hitler had a gay relative in favour of gay marriage, do we suddenly revise our opinion of his homophobia?
Tony Abbott a “totally decent human being” according to Michael! You have got to be kidding. This is the same man who verbally and physically abused and intimidated those of us working towards equality for gays. I personally was threatened by this man. I can still see his face twisted in hate and hear the vile homophobia be shouted out at me at university years ago. He was a hate filled and homophobic then and he is an unchanged man. he has never acknowledged or apologised for the disgusting anti-gay goon squads he led on and off campus. To those in the LGBT community today I say this – do not fall for any charm offensive from this man or any of this publicity which has suddenly emerged about his gay sister. So what? He is supposed to be a hero and decent because he still allows her and her partner into his home? Ask yourself this – what pathetic level of “acceptance” is involved when someone needs to be patted on the back for still inviting his gay sister and her partner into his home? Being grateful for the crumbs of humanity is not the mark of a decent human being. Far from it.
He must be gay!
Tony is a totally decent human being. He is true to his values and it seems his sister understands his position. They seem to have a wonderful relationship and he is welcoming of her partner Virginia. I am sure she understands his moral position as well and respects his adherence to his value base but admires his love of her and his acceptance of her new female partner . Good on you Tony. !! Proud of you!
I do believe Christine and Tony do love each other as siblings. Tony Abbott also mouths minimally publicly acceptable platitudes about his sister Christine’s later in life coming out, but ALL of us who have been in Christine’s position absolutely feel the real dynamic at work here.
What Tony Abbott is articulating is clenched teeth repressive tolerance – at best.
His sister has had to move away from the conservative North shore where her family us based and she had founded her life and moved to live in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. Why? Those of us who made that same decision know only too well – we are more likely to be accepted and be able to live a full life in areas certain areas in Sydney than others. Many of us have had to move away from the conservative family bases because being around them in “their world” was a constant affront to them and their values. They would say they respect our “lifestyle” – just as long as we did not live too close to home, them or their bigoted friends. Dinner party invitations were carefully worked out so we were only present in the family house on certain occasions with certain people present. This was supposed to demonstrate the idea that we had not been rejected totally because of our sexuality. For any insider who understood the invitation system, being invited into a siblings home under these circumstances involved a degree of stage management akin to a Wharf Theatre production. The elaborate planning simply emphasised there was no genuine acceptance.
This is called repressive toleration and is normally exhibited by homophobes with a little bit more education and finesse, who use it to mask their real, far nastier attitudes.
Repressive tolerance damages the kids in contact with relatives who behave this way – I would argue more so than the outright bigots. At least the blatant bigots speak their own inner truth, which means you grapple with the real person – not an image.
Kids at least clearly know what they are dealing with when an uncle spouts outright homophobia – when they spout this repressive tolerance routine we feel the rejection and disgust coming off them in waves, but their pretence of tolerance gets them off the hook socially for their true opinions.
Enough with gays whinging and all this gay crap !!!
I agree with Bg. A lifestyle choice would be something like choosing to live close to a beach. Sexual orientation is not a lifestyle.
We had a similar thing in NZ, where one of the most outspoken opponents of civil unions was revealed to have a lesbian sister. They posed together on the front of one of the dailies. She received death threats afterwards.
This is a slap in the face For Tony Abbott. Never acknowledging his sister.
Reminds me of my brother. He is just as homophobic.
Mr Abbott, need we remind you of the 9th Commandment: “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour”.
In an interview in March 2010, he stated on 60 Minutes (in the presence of his wife and daughetrs)his views on homosexuality “I probably feel a bit threatened, as so many people do. It’s a fact of life.”
Do you fear your sister and feel threatened by her relationship (does his wife share the view and his daughters about their two aunts?
Judge Tony Abbott by his actions not his words. Our differences are polictics, our agreements, principles. He has a slippery slope of principles.
In August 2010 on the ABC’s Q&A, he answered questions on his fear or ignorance of gay relationships; and was asked to provide an answer with dignity and respect to which he answered:
“Well, (questioner’s name) I absolutely agree with you that people have got to be given dignity and respect. And I would always try to find it in my heart to give dignity and respect to people regardless of their circumstances, regardless of their opinions.”
He continued: “I think there are lots of terrific gay relationships, lots of terrific commitments between gay parnters, but I just don’t think that marriage is the right term to put on it.” {A term written into law in 2004 with a definition devised by the Howard Govt).
In reference to his uncomfortable remarks on 60 Minutes, host Tony Jones asked if he had a change of opinion.
“I do know some gay people” and sensing a moment of humour he cluthed the hands of Tony Jones saying “I really do, mate, OK.”
And continued with “……….our initial reactions to things can be far from perfect. And I’m sure that at different times, I have reacted a bit poorly at first to things. But I hope I would always find it in my heart to treat people the way I’ve always wanted to be treated – with dignity and respect.”
All politics Tony, no action and NO PRINCIPLES!!!
While he obviously tolerates his sister’s relationship, he does not UNDERSTAND. He does not understand trust, freedom of choice, equity, fairness and non-interference in the lives of others.
He showed no integrity and no competence on the issues; nor any dignity or respect not to mention empathy for his sister.
This story has just begun.
There is much more to be told and I can’t wait to hear it.
Equality is so close now.
I think you will come to find in the future that publicly he takes his party’s view as he should being their leader and all, but privately is a different matter.
I am happy that Christine found Virginia and they were able to work things out in order to be together and take a public position in favour of same sex marriage.
I was one of the lesbians from the 1970’s involved in gay equality campaigns on university campuses in NSW – a 17 year old country kid in first year uni.
At the time, I, like many gay activists, was verbally abused and stood over by Tony Abbott and vicious mates for no reason other than being a lesbian and seeking an end to homosexual discrimination.
I was often physically terrified and intimidated in these situations, subjected to sexuality based derision which today would be labelled vilification and constitute an actionable offence under the Anti Discrimination Act.
Tony Abbott and his boofy mates would spew forth the most vile anti-gay propaganda, at a time when by identifying publicly as lesbian, we risked losing our teacher’s scholarships, being scheduled into psychiatric institutions, kicked out of university college accommodation, sacked, attacked. The Police were on side with the gay bashers then. A male friend of mine arrested by the police was taunted over being gay and sexually assaulted with an object by a police officer while in police cells.
Tony Abbott [and his mates] were horrific bullies whose public words of hate, contempt, and mysogeny scared me. Their favourite recipe to cure me and others of our lesbianism seemed to be compulsory heterosexual intercourse!
35 years later in this interview in The Australian Tony Abbott now claims his concern is protecting your children from the fall out or bullying arising from your lesbian “lifestyle choice”.
The only people your children will ever need to be protected from as a result of you being gay is their uncle, Tony Abbott and his like minded supporters.
“lifestyle choices” my ass. You were born that way girlfriend. He may have supported your lifestyle choices but he’s never supported you being a lesbian.