Human Rights Commissioner Tim Wilson’s call for marriage equality but respect for religions
HUMAN Rights Commissioner Tim Wilson has today made reference to Martin Place siege victim Tori Johnson in a plea for Australia’s parliamentarians to give the green light to same-sex marriage.
But in comments that have dismayed a marriage equality advocate, Wilson questioned whether it would be right to penalise people who might choose not to work at same-sex ceremonies due to a religious belief.
In a wide ranging speech at the National Press Club in Canberra this afternoon, Wilson, who is openly gay, said it was hypocritical for governments to expect all citizens to contribute equally but then arbitrarily deny some their equal rights.
“Every day gay and lesbian Australians are expected to fulfil their civil obligations,” he said.
“They’ve paid their taxes, worked, volunteered in civil society, fought and died in battle, and fallen to save others at Port Arthur and Martin Place.
“They’ve met their responsibilities; shouldn’t they get their civil rights too?”
Johnson, the manager of the Martin Place Lindt café, was one of two people who died in December’s siege.
Wilson said that while marriage was a “time-tested and valuable institution,” it was strong enough to withstand change.
However, the commissioner said the issue had been raised with him about the consequences for religious freedom should same-sex marriage be legalised.
“There is concern that if the law changes, civil celebrants, venues and photographers will face fines if they don’t participate in weddings they disagree with, as has occurred in the United States,” he said.
“I do not think that is constructive way forward.”
Wilson, whose portfolio also includes sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex rights, also said state governments should cease forcing married couples to divorce if one subsequently undergoes gender reassignment and chooses to have this reflected on official documentation.
“We should never be using the law to break resilient marriages apart,” he said.
Wilson, who was appointed to the role of commissioner in late 2013 by attorney general George Brandis, added that more needed to be done to educate service providers around trans* issues.
“In Brisbane I met with mothers desperately seeking access to medical and mental health services for their transgender children,” he said.
“Their stories were heartbreaking. All they wanted was the opportunity for their children to grow up and live happy, healthy lives.”
Australian Marriage Equality (AME) national director Rodney Croome applauded Wilson’s continued support.
“His advocacy, particularly to libertarian and conservative decision makers, is critical to achieving this reform,” he said.
However, Croome believes religious celebrants already had the legal right to choose who they marry and AME saw no reason in watering down anti-discrimination protections for possible future ceremonies.
“Wedding industry providers have everything to gain and nothing to lose from marriage equality,” he said.
“I’d urge Mr Wilson to do more to calm the fears of marriage equality opponents and less to legitimise them.
A forthcoming Human Rights Commission report announced by Wilson last May will recommend steps to ensure LGBTI Australians received fair treatment from government services.
So he likes to f….ck with white anglos only and expects the rest of the community to be the same as him…that’s his whole argument.
It’s shallow and selfish.
With the utmost respect to you sir…I like variety
Is that what his Freedom agenda is all about?
It is so embarrassing to the rest of the western world that gay marriage is still banned within Australia since 2004!
I for one and my partner Ron of 5 months can not believe that simple legislative or parliamentary changes to the Commonwealth of Australia Marriage Act 1961 – to provide simple marriage equality is still even an issue!
The personal attacks to Tim Wilson is a timely reminder of the attacks directed towards Ms Gillard…sorry we are on to you!
if Tim engages in the same nasty game of attacking Ms Triggs, then i can start calling him the following in the name of Freedom:
Faggot
Poofter
Creep
However i will not lower myself to that level and i hope the community doesn’t do the same or else we will never get Marriage Equality
The problem with Tim et al and the right is this…
They’re so berefit of ideas they taunt the left and try to be “provocative” be talking shallow crap ….
Here’s my Freedom of Speech
The day I see Tim on Sky News bonk the shit out of Peter Van Onselen in a three some with Waleed Aly and it’s not a news story that’s when we as a society would have achieved FULL Marriage Equality and diversity together.
Till then….I ignore the shit out of him as he’s a nice kid who couldn’t get into Oxford and pretends to be an intellectual giant
If he’s f…..ble then he’s ok for Sky viewers I guess.
He’ll do for “Straya” society I guess.
Before people scream uninformed abuse and shallow commentary….
Mr Tim Wilson has failed to acknowledge why his beloved Liberal Party lost the election in Victoria?
The influence of the I.P.A and their narcissistic tin men cant grasp the reality that very well educated Victorians see the party now full of selfish lobbyists which Tim was involved in to some degree.
Right-wing gay men are classy and o.k
Far-right wing Melbournians are crazy creatures and weird misfits in this city
If anarchists from the far right go too far they lose public support. …Tim has crossed that line many times.
The morning Tim resigned from the liberal party he accepted this shallow appointment for monetary reasons
I take everything he says with a grain of salt and feel sad that he uses our community for his own political gain.
I want to know what drug Wilson is taking when he goes on these libertarian ideological rants that make him look so foolish and immature for a man of his age…
Seriously…kudos to his colleague Tim who displays a more nuanced and thoughtful approach to his role at H.R.C
The Oxford degree probably helped him see through the many holes in Tims argument as well
Grow the f…..ck up please Wilson
I think tim is a dick!
So we’re paying for Tims lifestyle via this huge salary and his crazy conferences and those antics he’s renown for…
How the hell did he get this gig…?
There’s a gay boys club now is there?
Go back into the closet Tim
Such hollow arguments in his whole speech
Hope he enjoys this pretentious ride.
tim..go and fist f…ck abbott and co because you have sold out your heart and soul for money
His insecurity at the press club WAS JUST SO OBVIOUS..
There’s nothing wrong with being right-wing and gay……
The problem with Tim is he’s a far right wing extremist from a well educated background
That’s just sheer bullshit wrapped up in this ideological plaything to make it all look sophisticated
WANKER…..
Does Tim have some kind of grudge that he wants to pursue as a gay man with his ideology?
Why would the public support Marriage Equality now when you’re espousing bigotry to everyone else?
It’s a confused message that makes him look weird even to your own people Tim.
Grow up and step up and become a better role model than what you already are!
No one can ever be made to do anything, everyone has the right to their own beliefs and I think a Same Sex couple wouldn’t want an opposing person forced to work at their wedding. But I think if this is what he’s worried about, he need better priorities like actually along it legal for Same Sex couples to get married. Rather than debating imaginary consequences.
I am opposed to this lightweight mate of Brandis being the Human Rights Commissioner- Still I don’t get to opt out of this choice.
I wonder; are the people who type nasty hateful comments directed personally at Tim Wilson, the same people who flippantly say things like “haters gonna hate”?
I wouldn’t go religious with my wedding anyway. They can stick churches where the sun don’t shine.
BTW, last time I checked Tim Wilson was elected to serve the people of Australia, the majority of whom SUPPORT marriage equality. So, as a person ELECTED to support human rights, he should not be the one enforcing or perpetuating discrimination. Show some leadership, Tim!
Wrong. Tim Wilson is not a member of parliament and never has been. He was appointed to the Human Rights Commission by Attorney General, George Brandis.
I’m sure there are people employed in the wedding industry who are compelled to marry all sorts of people they don’t like. It’s a business. You either take the money, do your job and keep your opinions to yourself, or you choose not to work. Simples!
Piss off mate. Take your double standards and shove them where the sun don’t shine.
I hope his mother is proud….a son that’s a successful gay man but has no heart for children or to be a decent parent one day.
What a very confusing role model to be and have in this government of contradictions…
Looks like a gay neo -nazi I saw in a film on s.b.s last week
Very creepy but interesting man.
he makes the term fluffy fascism a viable solution
Religion is the curse of the planet
And it’s protected under section 116 of the Australian Constitution whereas sex, sexuality and even the word ‘equality’ aren’t mentioned once.
Tim Wilson is free to support a Nazi who says he cannot work at a gay wedding, but to make the discrimination legal, and talk about the right of a Nazi, over the rights of GLBTI people, well I think it is a silly look to the office of the Human Rights Commissioner. What next, does he support hotel staff not cleaning the room, the taxi not picking you up at the airport, the airline not flying you? Where does the right of the Nazi end and our right to live freely start?
If they don’t like it do something else
If my relgion said that women shouldn’t show their faces, does that mean that I shouldn’t serve any women in my shop that show their faces?????