Australian leaders ‘lag behind’
Australian marriage equality advocates have welcomed US president Barack Obama’s support for marriage equality, saying it puts further pressure on Australia’s national leaders to do the same.
“If Barack Obama can support marriage equality in an election year, in a country where support for the issue is lower than in Australia, then our national leaders have no excuses,” Australian Marriage Equality campaign director Rodney Croome said.
“Australia is lagging behind other comparable countries and it’s time for our national leaders to catch up to their counterparts overseas.”
Both Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott personally oppose same-sex marriage.
Obama joins UK Conservative prime minister David Cameron as a supporter of marriage equality.
“What’s notable about Mr Obama’s support is that his mind has been changed by the everyday experience of same-sex partners and their families at his daughters’ school and in military service,” Croome said.
“We call on Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott to also open their minds to the everyday experience of same-sex couples who share the same love, commitment, joys and sacrifices as other couples.”
Asked about President Obama’s change of heart this morning, Prime Minister Julia Gillard said she would not comment on the US election and would be taking her position of opposing gay marriage into Parliament.
“I know President Obama has made that statement,” Gillard told ABC radio station 774.
“I haven’t had the opportunity to view it myself. I’ve seen the reports of it, but no, my view hasn’t changed and when a bill comes to the parliament later this year… I won’t vote for it.”
Who would of thought that another conservative such as New Zealand’s prime minister John Key and the UK prime minister David Cameron both Conservatives support same sex marriage! Barrack Obama a centrist (I am also a centrist) also come out in support same sex marriage a couple of days ago!
Meanwhile here in Australia 60 percent of us normal taxpaying citizens are supportive of gay men, lesbians and their partners (regardless of your sexuality of the individual). What a total JOKE Australia has become – our forefathers will be spinning in their graves! Unlike our political leaders who are stuck in the 20th century and in the dark on real issues such as uranium mining, coal steam gas, lack of education in our schools, racism rearing its ugly head again about what happened in Kings Cross back in April of this year when a drunk and stoned aboriginal 14 year old boy was bashed by a police officer when he stole a car, housing affordability, cost of living pressures, middle class welfare, mining and carbon taxes, lack of marriage equality, political uncertainly about being in a big mess over the Craig Thompson, Peter Slipper, budget and taxes. I hate to say this but:
“I am ashamed and embarrassed to be Australian!”
Once I find a boyfriend, I will be leaving Australia and moving to one of these fine countries or a US state as listed: Canada, UK, New Zealand, South Africa, Brazil, Iceland, Uruguay, Columbia, Vermont, New York State, New Jersey, Delaware, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Washington State, Maryland, Belgium, Netherlands, France, Spain, Portugal, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Nepal, Mexico or Argentina!
Gillard is to busy supporting pollies, who used the union credit card to buy sex. She is to busy discriminating in the 1084 laws that reference the Marriage Act. And well, Abbott is to busy singing hate thy sister and nieghbour, and trying to make the Liberal Party a Vatican post.
If world leader can give support to us. So should everyone else.
Gillard and Abbott should too, now that Obama has approved.
Our leaders should hang their heads in shame.
One day Julia may wake up and Tim has gone.where will she stand when the fight begins over property etc.
Kevin
Surely they should open their minds more to Marriage Equality rather than “just” gay marriage, because that would include trans an intersex folk, who are stake holders in this as well.
There’s no excuse, we need equality NOW, I still don’t understand why we r still arguing about this in the 21st century