Marriage rights
The NSW Gay and Lesbian Lobby (GLRL) looks forward to the release of the Senate Committee report on the Inquiry into Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young’s Marriage Equality Amendment Bill due on November 26 and hopes the report recommends the proposed amendments.
On June 25 the Senate referred the Bill for inquiry and report. The Bill seeks to remove all discrimination from the Marriage Act on the basis of sexuality and gender identity and to permit marriage regardless of sex, sexuality and gender identity. Currently Section 5 of the Marriage Act discriminates against same-sex couples by defining ‘marriage’ as the union of a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life.
The Bill seeks to amend the definition of ‘marriage’ to provide that marriage is a ‘union between two persons’ and amend/remove other discriminatory language found in the Marriage Act, which would allow all couples the right to marry in Australia, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
The Bill also recommends Section 88EA be repealed to allow overseas same-sex marriages to be recognised in Australia. The GLRL supported these proposed amendments in our submission to the Inquiry which is available at www.glrl.org.au
The GLRL believes marriage is a civil institution which should be accessible to all citizens regardless of their sexual orientation. The current discrimination in the Marriage Act carries a social message that same-sex relationships are inferior and not deserving of the same respect and recognition as relationships between consenting heterosexual adults.
Since the passing of the 2008 federal law reforms, same-sex de facto couples enjoy the same rights and are subject to the same responsibilities (for example, in the area of social security) as heterosexual couples at a federal level, except for the right to marry. It is unjust not to grant comparable recognition to same-sex relationships through the institution of marriage.
Australia also falls behind many nations including Canada, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Sweden, South Africa and a number of US states (such as Massachusetts, Iowa, Connecticut and Vermont) who have now granted same-sex couples the right to marry.
The GLRL would also like to remind the community to come out in support of full marriage equality by attending the Rally for Same-Sex Marriage Rights coordinated by Community Action Against Homophobia this Saturday November 28, 1pm at Sydney Town Hall.
Dear Frank
Often the paedophiles and the Christians are one of the same eg: the Catholic Church hierarchy. But then your ability to comprehend information is probably as good as your spelling.
Ah ! the usual attack on christians,your imaginery persecuters.Nothing about the pedophile from the deserts flock though,thats right they have so much respect and understanding for your community dont they.
I read my facebook inbox message today from you Equal Love (NYA For Same Sex Marriage, forewarning us that there was athe letter in ciculation from Salt Shakers stating that “anti-supporters may be at the rally tomorrow” and thought I had just better get on the phone! So during my lunch hour today, I picked up m mobile, and had a most charming conversation with the person responsible for the email.
I called one Peter Stokes, Executive officer of Saltshakers to ascertain what his ulterior motives were for having his “members” attend tomorrow’s rallies.
Our conversation went a little something like this:
Peter Stokes (PS): Good Afternoon, this is Peter
Me (LS): “Yes, is that Peter Stokes of the Saltshakers?”
PS: “Yes it is”
LS: “Good afternoon Peter, my name is Lin, I am calling about the inbox message I have just seen on Facebook, in relation to you seeking volunteer photographers for tomorrow’s National Day of Action throughout Australia” Are you aware of the message?
PS: “Ah, err…not on facebook?” “I sent an email on our website”
LS: “Well it has made its way onto facebook.”
PS: Where are you from?
LS: “I am from Sydney, and I would like to talk to you about the email, I could take photos at the Sydney rally tomorrow”
PS: “What is your position?”
LS: “I am in finance Peter.”
PS: “Err, ah…” “I have just finished a text conversation with someone who was pro-gay rights, and we receive allot of calls from the media, I am just trying to establish what your position is”
LS: “I am not a journalist.”
PS: “Are you a Christian?”
LS: “Yes, I am.”
PS: “I am sorry; I just need to be wary of who I am speaking to”
LS: “”Peter, I am interested to know what it is you wish to achieve by having us photograph rally members tomorrow, what are you planning on doing with the photographs”
PS: “They would be used as evidence for statistical purposes”
Peter then went on to explain his plan in using the photos taken, to “challenge the media” if the media or police attempted to exaggerate the number in attendance at tomorrows rallies. He went on to say it was his belief that the last rallies were reported to have had more attended than he believed there was, and he also believed that the attendance at the Mardi gras was grossly exaggerated.
We talked about how the media can be “selective”, somehow he suggested this was “Pro-Gay” in how it covers certain stories and events, and through this he agreed with me that videography and certainly photography can be manipulated to make things appear busier, or less busy than they actually are!
He told me that actually “There is no way to accurately headcount during a rally”
(So how he planned to do so, if this was truly his motive, begs its own question, but this I kept to myself)
LS: “So Pete, let’s say we photograph everyone in attendance throughout Australia, there is a problem, we cannot use only the numbers those in attendance to statistically report on the publics’ support on their issue! What about all of the people that do not know the event is on, yet still are in support of the movement?
PS: “Everyone knows about Mardi Gras”
LS: But not tomorrows rallies! It comes down to marketing, or in this case, lack thereof.
Certainly, one must also consider that this event has not been advertised on Prime Time Television, that the people organising this event have not the financial capacity or means to have advertised the event for months leading up to it on billboards, radio and the like, they certainly don’t have the finance that the Pope had for his event in Sydney?
I have no doubt that there a many people who simply don’t know it is on! Or can not attend for what reason…Family and friends, and even people who have no openly gay relatives or friends, but who still support the notion of equal marriage for all Australians need to be counted. Taking photographs in an attempt to count heads at the rallies, does not provide an accurate statistic on the number of people who support Equal Marriage in Australia.
At this point, of course Peter was aware that he was dealing with a Christian by breed, AND a supporter of equal rights by creed! So he attempted to argue the whole “homosexuality is not normal” argument. This had no basis as usual.
PS: “What is most important to you?
LS: “Love”
PS:”What about truth?”
LS: “Truth is love”
I reminded him that years ago “Women voting, or indeed women stepping foot into a pub, was “not normal”
And left him with a quote from Thomas Jefferson:
“I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and constitutions, but laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors.”
LS: “I wish you well Pete I really do, just please Stop judging.
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SEE YOU TOMORROW PEEPS, AND IF YOU CAN’T BE THERE, PLEASE MAKE SURE SOMEONE YOU KNOW CAN XOXO
Yours In Equality,
LS.