Labor MP takes on PM Rudd

A South Australian Labor MP has broken party ranks on gay marriage and called on Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to engage in debate on marriage equality.

Hot on the heels of a poll which suggests most Australians would support same-sex marriage, state upper house MP Ian Hunter addressed South Australian Parliament last week in a speech giving his position on the issue.

Hunter spoke of his partner of almost 20 years, Leith Semmens, and his desire to marry him.
-œI want to get married -” and you, Mr Rudd, are stopping me, he said in Parliament.

Galaxy poll findings released by Greens Senator Bob Brown and lobby group Australian Marriage Equality indicated 60 percent of Australians are in favour of same-sex marriage.

-œI am no longer content to accept the crumbs from the table… I am no longer prepared to accept a proposition that my married friends’ relationships are intrinsically superior to my relationship; and I certainly won’t accept the proposal that means my relationship is registered at the local council or some similar body, Hunter said.

Hunter told Southern Star he’d been working on a draft speech for some time and it was his first opportunity to have his say.

-œI’m hopeful as debate mounts that others in Parliament will change their minds as they start to hear some of the personal stories and how it impacts on our lives, he said.

-œThere is something about having a celebration and making those public vows to each other. I think it’s very important in my life and I’d like to be able to do it.
Hunter is wary of a federal civil union scheme.

-œIf civil unions were available to gay and straight, and [couples] were allowed to have a celebrant and conduct a ceremony just like everybody else who doesn’t get married in a church, then I’d look at it.
-œWhat I don’t want is separate but equal. I don’t want marriage for straights and -˜you gays can have civil unions’. I want something everyone can have.