Letters to the editor – Sydney

SINGLE STATUS

My Norwegian husband and I faced a problem re Non-Impediment Certificates six years ago when we arranged to marry in Norway (‘Gillard marriage stance ‘mean’, SSO 1077).

We circumvented this requirement thanks to a very helpful member of one of the European embassies. This marvellous individual suggested I apply for a Single Status Certificate, thus bypassing the whole Non-Impediment stupidity.

I did so. It arrived two weeks later. And it was duly accepted by the Norwegians, because what they wanted was proof that I was single — nothing more.

I suggest this as an avenue for those who need to bypass the brazen homophobia of the Gillard Government.

— Cameron

CONTACT YOUR UNION

I’ll be attending the NSW state conference as a delegate of local ALP members in the state seat of Sydney (‘Gillard facing state revolt’, SSO 1078).

Inner-Sydney ALP branches strongly support marriage equality and I’ll be doing what I can to encourage the state conference to also support it.

I encourage anyone who is a member of a union to contact their union and encourage them to support reform at the state conference.

— Sacha Blumen

BAKED OFF

Having previously entered the BGF Bake-Off, I was surprised to learn that my entry, ‘The Bus Stop for Protection’ in the amateur Best Decorated Cake section, was not auctioned.

A number of my friends were ready to start a bidding war on said cake, and were as disappointed as I was that my cake was not auctioned.

Not only did this reduce the amount of money BGF would have earned for the evening, but it also caused me to regret the effort, time and money the cake had cost me and my friend to produce. We had not entered to win, but to raise money for BGF.

It seems the number of cakes to be auctioned was dictated not by the number of cake entries, but by the number of large donated prizes the cakes were to be auctioned off in conjunction with. It also seems the decision on which cakes were to be auctioned was decided not by the judges, but by a BGF volunteer. This was evidenced by the cake that came third in our section not being auctioned either.

It is with a melancholy heart that I recall the excitement of having our Tiffany Cake raise more than $1100 in 2009 or even bidding $100 for a bag of toffee in the Midnight Shift in 2008. It was a bake-off, it was camp, it was inclusive and it was fun.

Perhaps BGF should consider dispensing with the Bake-Off altogether. Instead you could just have one of those ubiquitous, exclusive, gala fundraisers, you could charge $500 per table, invite even fewer people than turned up at Bake-Off, and not have wasted my time and effort so thanklessly.

— Morgan

PRESSURE

Keep the pressure on your local ALP pollies and their supporters (‘Gillard faces state revolt’, SSO 1078).

Marriage equality is not a done deal, even with state ALP conference outcomes. The head and shoulders of the Labor Party are against same-sex marriage, make no mistake. If they can find a loophole to get out of it, they will.

Write to your local ALP members (or a letter to your local newspaper, naming them) and demand they attend the ALP national conference and vote in favour of same-sex marriage in December. You’ll get a reaction, I guarantee!

We are not going to get this legislation passed by sitting pretty on promises from Queensland!

— Michael

NO LABOR OF LOVE

Gillard’s private views, whatever they may be, are immaterial (‘PM for sale’, SSO 1078).

It is her public position that matters — for it is this that dictates the direction the country is going, and it is this that justifies the continuing discrimination against gays and lesbians.

Given that she has, to date, outright refused to meet with representatives of the gay and lesbian community or Australian Marriage Equality, yet freely met with the bigoted and homophobic ACL, this further goes to demonstrate what her true (lack of) character is.

It is time this woman was given the boot, and the rest of her incompetent, corrupt party with her.

— Rob

BLIGH FOR PM?

First the floods, now marriage equality (‘Gillard faces state revolt’, SSO 1078).

The Queensland premier continues to impress. I wonder if she’s ever considered being top dog. Anna Bligh for PM?

— Damien