Dear Premier Newman,
Today I am sitting at my computer in shock. I’m shocked to see the news that the recognition of homosexual civil unions has now be relegated to a mere “registration”, akin to registering a dog or a trailer for the car.
Just under six months ago on the 30th of November, Queensland Parliament took clear affirmative action with the passage of the Civil Partnership Act 2011.
On its passage, then premier Anna Bligh stated, “This bill is fundamentally about the human rights of Queensland’s citizens, but it is much more than that. It is about the joyful business of love and that is why it has touched the hearts of so many Australians, why so many people believe that Australia should be dealing with this issue”.
All Australians should have the fundamental right to express their love, to express their devotion, and most importantly, to have access to the same rights under the law afforded to heterosexual couples Australia-wide.
The dilution of the Civil Partnership Act from a strong affirmation of equality for homosexuals to a tokenistic concession is saddening. Most distressing to me is the constant press attention highlighting that this action happened reactively to appease Christian lobby groups.
This sickens me to the core on so many levels, not the least that I am the direct descendant of William Forgan Smith, premier of Queensland from 1932 to 1942, a man noted for his devotion to all citizens of Queensland.
While history has noted Premier Forgan Smith introduced some controversial legislation, his actions were always from a position of ensuring the best for his constituents and Queensland as a whole. He did not bow to the pressures of fundamentalism; his aim was to make Queensland the leading state of Australia.
After his resignation, he left a strong legacy. The Story Bridge, Somerset Dam and the upgrade of Mackay’s harbour are all examples of the long-lasting impact his premiership had on Queensland.
His involvement in the nurturing of the University of Queensland helped ensure schools of dentistry, veterinary science and medicine placed Queensland as a leader in education. I am proud to say I graduated from this very university.
Indeed I have sat in many lectures in the Forgan Smith building, proud to know that my great-grandfather was the driving force behind the creation of a coordinated Queensland health system.
Premier Newman, what, may I ask, will be your legacy?
Is it your destiny to forge change in your state that will be present for centuries to come? Or will your record include sad examples of discrimination and subjugation of particular members of your state after being lobbied by interest groups better aligned to your next election?
Mr Newman, I am sad to say I will never return to Queensland under your reign. As long as my brothers and sisters are treated no better than a pet or a head of cattle, I can never return to Queensland.
I urge you to take a stand on your own feet. Not a wonky platform hobbled together by factions using you as their spokesperson for homophobic values. The action of the Queensland Government has been a stab in the heart for me and for many of my non-heterosexual peers.
Listen to your heart, listen to your citizens and remember that homosexuals also vote.
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If the Christian lobby (these days a very vocal minority) can exert so much pressure maybe it is time we mobilized the international gay community to boycott Queensland as a tourist destination or Queensland products. I have no idea what the pink dollar is worth to Queensland.
If this precedent is allowed to stand without community opposition they will try to roll back even more rights little by little. This government carries the old Bjelke-Petersen – National Party -police state legacy in its entrails.
From what I have seen so far, Campbell Newman has done more to hurt the lives of Queeslanders in his short term in office than the many years under Labor. I am a born and bred Queenslander, for the last 20 years I have worked for the government in Emergency Nursing. I have seen good and bad things happen under different premiers. My thanks for my loyalty to Qld Government and passionate advocacy of everything Queensland, is to be informed I may now lose my job as a direct result of Newman policy. I hold many Gay and Lesbian friends dear to my heart, and to see them disrespected as Queenslanders like this sickens me. After a good long think on the weekend, I began the application process for jobs interstate. I don’t want to be around to see Campbell Newman wipe his muddy shoes all over the lives of the people I love.
What is the bother about a certain word? People – any people – do not need laws to feel close and strong with each other.
Government need to back off of life. This is only about government rubbish. It is really just another way for the gov’t get the $$$ off of people if they break-up! Divorce is not cheap, why marry if legals are the only benefits?
Just a bit of paper. Don’t need that before we can live close.
(rather leave my email off of publications. Thanks)
Bummer!!!
Fantastic words but very sad that you are having to write them in 2012. So many parts of the world are moving forward but Queensland certainly is moving retrograde. My partner and I will never travel to Queensland under the current government either until the civil union act is restored to its previous form and the surrogacy act is as it was before. I think that as a group , we , our friends both homosexual and heterosexual, and families should boycott Queensland until this is favourably resolved. Let’s spend our hard earned cash in non homophobic places. Let’s also avoid buying produce from Queensland so we are not funding the Queensland government with taxes.
Brilliantly worded letter. How shocking though that it should even have to be written in the first place. There should be equal rights for all. I am neither from Australia nor am I gay, but I wholeheartedly agree with everything Doctor George Forgan-Smith has written. If I ever was to come to Australia you can rest assured that I won’t be spending my tourist dollar in Queensland.