AME: ALP conference next target
In response to today’s parliamentary report-back by MPs on support in their electorates for same-sex equality, marriage equality advocates have reminded politicians that all recent polling has shown majority support for same-sex marriage.
Australian Marriage Equality (AME) spokesman Peter Furness congratulated those MPs who consulted in their electorates and those who responded to them.
“We are pleased many tens of thousands of Australians have contacted their MPs to express their support for equality, but clearly there are many who have yet to raise their voices and it remains our job to encourage them,” Furness said.
“It was particularly pleasing to see MPs comment on the quality and heart-felt nature of many of the letters they received from supporters of equality in their electorates.”
“Our focus now is on the ALP National Conference and ensuring the strong support for this issue among the ALP rank and file is reflected in a new party platform supporting equality.
31 of the 150 members of the House of Representatives spoke, with MPs known to be both supporters and opponents not among those participating.
Of those who did, some reported support for marriage equality in their electorates while others reported opposition.
A large group of Liberals who participated said they supported civil unions, as did some Labor opponents of same-sex marriage – while the Liberal Bruce Billson said he understood that civil unions didn’t sound very romantic and suggested “committed life partnerships” might be a better name.
Furness stressed that full equality was what same-sex couples deserved and that alternatives “entrench discrimination against same sex couples rather than removing it”.
AME welcomed the presentation of a petition singed by over 55,000 people who support marriage equality on the same day – dwarfing a 35,000 signature anti-same-sex marriage petition presented at last week’s Marriage Day event.
The petition was organised by progressive lobby group, GetUp!, who’s participation in the campaign in the lead up to MPs reporting back was attacked by a number of Liberal marriage equality foes.
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Heterosexuality is not normal, it’s just more common.
Glad you appreciated the little quip Meg and I can see why you prefer sex with women..so do I (ok I haven’t tried the alternative). Apologies to ben for gate crashing the gay site. its not ‘normal’ came across it by accident and put in my two bob’s worth..probably a bit more than that.
Being a long time fan of nature docos, they always seem to say that humans are the only species that engage in sex for the joy of it. I am glad you didn’t say that homosexuality is common in the animal kingdom..because so infanticide and eating your own crap.
As I am not an activist and am spending WAY too much time on a gay web site, I will bid you all farewell.. Live long and prosper and good luck.
Mike, it may be true that from an evolutionary perspective homosexuality is “wrong”, but I personally believe that our species has been advanced enough.
Your point on sex is interesting… but I have considerably more fun having sex with women than I ever had with men, and trust me I’ve tried. It’s just the way I am :)
I did enjoy your quip about the redheaded american though.
It was great to see President Obama take a stand on GLBTI rights recently in a compelling speech. He has joined a chorus of nations who believe in freedom, not persecution. In justice for all. For we are all born of the same flesh and blood.
Nobel Peace Prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu said.
“To penalize someone because of their sexual orientation is like what used to happen to us; to be penalized for something which we could do nothing (about) — our ethnicity, our race. I would find it quite unacceptable to condemn, persecute a minority that has already been persecuted.”
My Anglican Bishop travels Australia giving talks on the rights of the GLBTI community. Homophobia has been declared a sin in some churches, and a majority of Christians in Australia have joined with others seeking us to have full equality as the polls show us.
The Uniting Church funds and runs many anti-homophobic programs.
It is great to see not only Catholic Spain supporting Same-Sex Marriage, and equality to all, but also Buddhist Nepal.
New York certainly has a special magic as more and more people join the push for equality, as they sweep through in a great Civil Rights battle. In New York, there were over 700 Church leaders who advocated for equality and Same-Sex Marriage. Just as laws once discriminated against African Americans, so the tide is turning within many Churches as people battle to give full equality to Same-Sex attracted people.
The winds of Change are blowing across Australia and we will soon enjoy equality. But there will some who will never be happy about this, just as there are some who still hate people of a different race or skin colour.
Red hair isn’t normal either.
Nor is it normal for a heterosexual to spend lots of time blogging on a homosexual website…
There is a natural order of things. Claim whatever you like, but homosexuality is not ‘normal’. Whether you are a creationist or evolutionist homosexuality should not exist. It is denounced by every religion I know of and if you believe in evolution it should have been weeded out as it does nothing for the advancement of the species. Male and female genatalia are comnpletely different yet totally compatible. Not so with homosexual sex…just the way it is. Oh, and a sales assistant should only refuse to serve a red headed American..just the way it is.
Ed: Any Zoologist would tell you that sex has functions that go beyond reproduction in animal species. Also individuals don’t need to reproduce to have their traits and genes carried into future generations so long as they contribute to the survival of their family group- look at ants, wasps, bees mole rats and termites.
Mike, you are perfectly entitled to your views on gays, asians, buddhists or bicycle riders. But your actions are a different matter.
You support restricting certain people’s rights because of how they were born. Should a sales assistant refuse service to an American because they have an opinion about Americans? What about not allowing people with red hair to marry?
Some in the Labor Party are asking us to believe a talking snake married Adam and Eve,as who else married them? I am just not convinced that is a case against extending access to the 1084 laws that reference the Marriage Act.
I am calling on the Labor Party to put on their agenda a National Sorry Day -For the Civil Rights abuses against GLBTI people!
Now now Ed. don’t be silly. But to play your game, no I would not agree with it. However I would absolutely defend their right to voice their opinion just as I defend your right to voice yours. If you are confident in yourself and what you believe you should not fear debate. Unfortunately we often see intimidation tactics when people holding a differing opinion try to express it (we see that from ALL quarters.
Thank goodness for the intelligent and informed responses to these comments by the editor. As a Brisbanite who has lived in New York City for the past 14 years, I was thoroughly disheartened by the live stream MP feedback yesterday. Kudos once again to the wonderful Shelley Argent for being in attendance. Shelley’s ABC Radio interview outlining Julia Gillard’s assurance that their will be no conscience vote in Parliament before the ALP National Conference in December and the PM’s promise to ensure that the results of the Conference on this issue are of on-going significance at the Federal Legislative level gave me a glimmer of hope.
Interesting point on the heterosupremicist, but isn’t that the same old tactic of ‘labelling’ a person who has a different opinion in an attempt to discredit their opinion?
The state has enforced opinions on people’s lives since Adam was a boy and continues to do that. Gays are not specifically a target on that point.
Ed: So if atheists were campaigning to have marriages that were performed by clergy legally annulled in order to maintain the separation of church and state, you’d be fine with that, would you?
What is appalling is that if you don’t agree with everything the gay community wants you are labelled with that most over used of words ‘homophobic’. You are not allowed to have a differing opinion. I seems freedom of speech and thought is a great idea until someone disagrees with you. Sounds like a phobia in itself…freedom of speech phobia..is there are technical term for that?
Ed: It’s one thing to have an opinion, it’s another thing to to expect the state to enforce that opinion on someone else’s life. I agree that the term ‘homophobic’ is over used- usually in situations where ‘heterosupremicist’ would be a more accurate word.
NOT ONE Liberal supported same-sex marriage – not even Malcolm Turnbull!
Appalling.