Wong chooses politics over community

Wong chooses politics over community

Openly gay federal climate change minister Penny Wong has ignited a storm of criticism following a declaration of support for her Government’s stand against gay marriage.

Wong put her stance to the public twice in three days ­— first on Channel 10 on Saturday, and again on the ABC on Monday night.

On Ten, the South Australian senator said she respected Labor’s view of marriage as an institution between a man and a woman.

“I think the reality is there is a cultural, religious, historical view around that which we have to respect,” she said.

Wong, who is not up for re-election on August 21, confirmed that position on ABC’s Q&A program.

“I accept that you and others in the community would like us to have a different position in terms of marriage. That isn’t the position of the party,” she said.

“I have a view — you join a team, you’re part of a team and that’s the way we operate. People sometimes like that and sometimes they don’t.”

Wong also appeared to shoot down the possibility of a conscience vote on the issue in the next parliament, saying, “I don’t believe in conscience votes”.

Defending Wong on Q&A, former Labor senator Graham Richardson said support for the issue within the ALP was far from widespread.

“There are a lot of people in the Labor Party who don’t agree with this stuff — at the moment there’s nowhere near a majority,” the party power broker said.

“She doesn’t run the government. She’s a part of it. There’s a thing called cabinet solidarity and if she wants to break it she gets nowhere.”

[poll id=”37″]

Australian Marriage Equality spokesman Alex Greenwich said Wong’s rationale for opposing marriage equality was deeply hypocritical.

“If culture, religion and history were sound reasons for upholding discrimination there would be no Senator Penny Wong,” he said.

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young told Sydney Star Observer Wong’s comments had shown up a supposedly forward moving party.

“What happened to the party that wanted to move forward?” they gay marriage advocate asked.

“What we’re seeing from Penny Wong is anything but that.”

Community Action Against Homophobia (CAAH) co-convener Cat Rose said Wong’s stance put her to the extreme right wing of the LGBTI community.

“It’s a shame Labor thinks they can wheel out a lesbian politician to defend their homophobic position,” Rose said.

“The polls show the LGBTI community wants marriage equality — someone like Penny Wong shouldn’t be allowed to speak for us.”

Neighbour Day founder Andrew Heslop used Facebook to express his outrage and disappointment at Wong’s comments.

“Across Australia there are thousands and thousands of parents in the city and the bush with same-sex attracted children,” he wrote.

“These families are currently being denied the opportunity to see all of their adult children lovingly commit to their chosen partner in a nationally and equally legally valid ceremony.

“It may be true that Senator Wong is not interested in such a ceremony with her female partner … but at least she should be given a choice.”

Wong has twice been voted on to the SameSame 25 Most Influential Gays and Lesbians list and has previously offered dinner with herself as a prize at the annual Aurora Dinner.

Multiple calls to her office by Sydney Star Observer this week were not returned.

Wong’s comments attracted a flurry of activity online with nearly 70 percent of 40,000 people stating their support for same-sex marriage on a Sydney Morning Herald poll, and four out of five Sydney Star Observer readers saying they would not vote Labor as a result of Wong’s comments.

CAAH will hold a protest against the Government’s anti-gay marriage stance at Taylor Square at 5pm this Thursday.

info: The next Sydney gay marriage protest is at Sydney Town Hall from 1pm on Saturday, August 14.

Previous story: Wong labelled a hypocrite

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44 responses to “Wong chooses politics over community”

  1. I don’t care if she personally wants or doesn’t want to enter into a marriage with her partner. That is her business, not mine. But it is my business when she does not respect my right to not be discriminated when it comes to this or any other issue. She chose political expediency.

    We need to stand firm in stating that it is just not acceptable and that a price will be paid for that kind of behavior. In those areas where we can make that perfectly clear, we need to let our politicians know what we are going to do about it and why. Trust me, if the Greens are successful and the gay vote is what makes the difference, all of a sudden Labor will be singing from our hymn book once again.

    We will never reach full equality by quietly sitting in the back of the bus. We will not get there by throwing eggs at effigies, either. But a nice turn out at a rally will not hurt.

  2. I’m so tired of being told how to feel by people defending the indefensible. It’s bad enough when Labor hardheads and corporate media columnists do it, but it’s even worse to see people in our community do it.

    Wong’s remarks were an offensive betrayal of her own community and she should be ashamed of herself for making them. There are other Labor politicians, gay and straight who strongly back equality (Sen Pratt and Anthony Albanese – respectively – spring to mind) several Labor candidates have also come out in support of equal marriage so there’s nothing stopping Wong expressing her view opposing the policy if indeed it was her view. Given that these other people in the Labor Party can speak up for our equality I’m forced to conclude that Wong really does believe that we shouldn’t be allowed to marry. This can only be attributed to internalised homophobia.

    To which I’d say if you’re too internally conflicted to fight for your own equality then shut up and get out of the way for those who aren’t and when they win through have decency to be thankful for efforts that made your life better.

    A few decades ago this would have been about whether homosexuality should be criminalised and gay people stigmatised, I dare say there were people in our community who didn’t want to rock the boat then either, who remembers them now? No one. Instead we remember the Harvey Milks or the Peter Tatchells of this world because they were brave enough to stand up when it wasn’t popular. With 60% of the country on board marriage equality is hardly a radical cause anymore.

    So no Labor hacks, I won’t told I shouldn’t offended when I am and I will hold Penny Wong’s feet to the fire for her betrayal because it’s what she deserves. For a number of reasons I’d been leaning towards the Greens before Gillard took over, I’d allowed myself to hope that an atheist, female PM, in a de facto relationship, from the left of the ALP might be a tiny bit more progressive than St Kevin and get the ALP my first preference but alas that hope was a forlorn one. Wong’s comments were the last straw. Greens it is.

  3. Congratulations to the SSO for bringing this issue to light. I am very disappointed by Penny Wong’s statements as I would by anyone from our community making such unhelpful remarks. It is made more damaging because she has a high public profile and chooses to advocate against LGBTI rights reform. There are plenty of politicians that are openly LGBTI in politics, the Greens Bob Brown springs to mind. I tend to commend those politicians, LGBTI or straight, which stand up for LGBTI rights and not advocate against them. The same-sex marriage ban is our most prominent anti-gay law. Equalizing heterosexual de facto rights to that of marriage, which just happened to benefit the LGBTI community, is not mitigation for supporting specifically articulated anti-gay legislation.

  4. Regarding the racist slurs…THEY SHOULD NOT BE PUBLISHED HERE

    The SYDNEY STAR OBSERVER should be taking them down.

    For people who are so quick to condemn Penny Wong, they are remarkably slow to pick up or condemn the many racist postings here.

    SSO editor, where are you, why is racism allowed in this debate?

  5. Chris I guess Penny is a good example of what you are talking about – oppressing a minority. Our leaders set the example.

  6. What ever your opinion is on Penny Wong’s stance on marriage equity ( and i don’t agree with it ) stop the racist slurs re her name etc- it is sickening!

    Racism is rife in our community ..just look at any gay online dating site ! Nothing more tragic than one oppressed minority
    discriminating against another!Grow up!

  7. @Derek Williams
    Penny’s “aboutface”? You are obviously blissfully unaware that neither the Labor Party, the Coaltion nor Penny Wong has ever supported gay marriage. She is a lesbian. That we know. But your talk about discrimination is hypocritical if you choose to define her on her sexuality. She was not given the mandate to champion gay marriage and she should not be expected to automatically take on the mantel. You reckon that’s disappointing, Derek? Well Bob Brown is gay and has championed gay marriage for as long as the Greens has existed. But guess what? He has achieved nothing nothing until Penny Wong steered Labor to change the 80 or so offending articles. You radicals need to be given a hard whack in the face to learn about Realpolitik.

  8. “The electorate voted Penny Wong into office knowing her to be lesbian, thus giving her a platform from which to articulate public advocacy on any issue she sees fit.”

    Correction: the voters of South Australia elected her to the Senate, on the ALP ticket, to represent their interests. Her sexuality wasn’t the principal basis on which she stood – or was judged fit – for office. Nor should it have been.

    BTW, Wong has never claimed that the ALP policy on marriage is reflective of any personally held beliefs on her part. Rather, she’s acknowledged the current political reality inherent in the ALP’s position and the consequent obligation upon her to support it. It’s the same policy that binds Labor MP’s in every state and in NZ, where there’s a number of out MP’s on both sides of politics and where also both the previous and former Prime Ministers have ruled out gay marriage.

    Some of the criticism of her over this has been truly vile
    and frankly, I couldn’t give a toss whether two middle class straight women like Sarah Hanson-Young and Christine Milne are aggrieved because she’s somehow failed to live up to their expectations of a politically correct lesbian.

  9. I agree Scott, and a very good article Derek!

    The Religious Right is trying to save Penny. The people that argued the most for our cause within the Labor was heterosexuals like Lindsay Tanner. The people who argued the most for our cause in Parliament have been the Greens. Only the Greens have put up Same-Sex Marriage legislation. Only the Greens. This was voted down by all in the Liberal and Labor Party.

  10. @EL Please stop with the link to The Australian – a Murdoch paper. We all know what that stands for. I think the reason people are so pissed of at Penny is not because of the Labor Party line but she that she could have been a smart politician & skirted around the issue like she did a few months ago on Q & A by saying she first hand understood the issues of gay marriage & Labor has implemented 82 changes blah blah blah. Instead she came right out & said she personally does not agree with gay marriage. This makes her look like she was wheeled out by the Labor Party as if to say ‘see we have a lesbian on board and even she does not agree with gay marriage’. Shame on you Penny – you are as hypocritical as one of those US closeted gay Republican politicians that are anti-gay & get caught with a male prostitute.

  11. To El, anyone that makes statements like: “I think the reality is there is a cultural, religious, historical view around that which we have to respect,” is far from level headed.
    Consider if this was applied to all policy changes, Penny wouldn’t be able to vote much less hold a seat in parliament & homosexuality would still be unlawful. Still want to run with this Penny?
    And this from a party with a slogan of “Moving Forward” not likely with this attitude.
    The other factor here is not about Penny wanting marriage, it’s not for everyone but everyone deserves the choice and the gay community thought she would understand that.

  12. To be blatantly honest would be to acknowledge that the gay scene can be a cold place to find acceptance and support. It’s all lies to me whenever I come across people professing strength in unity that we “have”. I have never heard of any visible ongoing work done by grassroots organisation for gay rights till now, of course my life has not changed for the better because of them. Stop taking credit where you don’t deserve it. Public protest and outcry has led us this far, the current labour government won’t take the next step, but religious zealots like the Abbotts of this world might just roll it back.
    Stop blaming Penny, hold responsible the religious institution that’s legitimising homophobia instead. But how far can we go with that? It might be time to reflect the way we are feeding ourselves about how right we are.
    I am grateful to have my rights protected at work, though I struggle to relate with the mainstream in the social context. Cos in real life, they don’t have to be politically correct to accomodate the “likes” of me.
    The title of marriage would have to be forgone, it is a relgious/ moral/ spiritual institution which our kind categorically are not made for. We will have everthing else aside from the namestake, but that won’t change the stance some kind of bias have against us.

  13. I was conceived and brought up by heterosexual parents in the company of heterosexual siblings in an openly heterosexual society. I was educated at a religious private school, which taught me all about loving heterosexual marriage. Without exception, dramaturgical portrayals of relationships to which I was exposed were heterosexual.

    Notwithstanding this, I still managed to turn out entirely homosexual, which, given the above circumstances, could be said to be surprising. Gay was not an easy thing to be in the 1960’s, when I could have been imprisoned, merely for having this positive interaction with another human being. Yet my life was made rewarding and fulfilling by the love and unstinting support of friends, colleagues, and most of all, my family who never once treated me any less favourably because my passion was for a person of the same gender as my own.

    There is no doubt that LGBT rights we have already gained could never have made it into legislature without the overwhelming support given by the heterosexual majority, responding to our appeals for human compassion, justice and fair play.

    There is also no doubt that the public perception of a great many cogent issues of public interest has been profoundly changed by individual activism and education, such as Aneurin Bevan’s founding of the NHS in the UK, Florence Nightingale’s championing of the high nursing standards we enjoy today, the enactment of women’s suffrage, emancipation of slaves in the USA, and the outspoken advocacy of Harvey Milk. In all these cases public opinion changed, because it was ultimately seen to be right. The veil of ignorance and prejudice was lifted by strong individuals of high moral character, who never gave up.

    While there is not universal support even in the gay and lesbian communities for gay marriage, few would want to deny this to people who seek it. Marriage has formalised the love and mutual commitment of countless heterosexual Australian couples, and poll results on the subject now make it clear that they do not wish to deny this to others wishing the same lawful acknowledgment for their relationships.

    The granting of universal access to marriage and all that it connotes does not in any way threaten heterosexual marriage. Heterosexual marriage will be as strong as ever, no matter whether we have gay marriage or not.

    The electorate voted Penny Wong into office knowing her to be lesbian, thus giving her a platform from which to articulate public advocacy on any issue she sees fit. Her aboutface is therefore doubly disappointing because it appears to be more the result of faint heartedness and meanspiritedness, than of rational thought. These are not qualities to be admired in anyone, let alone in a politician.

  14. You guys are shameless. Utterly shameless. Penny chooses politics over community? The hell you don’t want her to choose politics. Name a level-headed openly gay politician in the Federal parliament besides Penny. What we need is people like her who can work within an incumbent party. We don’t need radicals like Bob Brown. To Coalition voters and some Labor voters, he is joke. And guess what Australia is a democracy and be prepared legislations need to be agreeable to most Australians. Penny is NOT the Minister for Gay Marriage. And if the gay community turn its back on Penny, you might as well Mardi Gra you life away. Grow up kids. Use your brain. Read:http://blogs.crikey.com.au/thestump/2010/07/28/lay-off-penny-it-takes-all-types-to-make-change-happen/ and http://blogs.theaustralian.news.com.au/samanthamaiden/index.php/theaustralian/comments/a_lure_for_dumb_gay_snipers/

  15. Penny Wong will cross the floor of Parliament and go against Same-Sex Marriage.

    She does not support changing the Federal Equal Opportunity Act either. The plan for Labor is to do 4 years of nothing for us. Then the Liberals will get in and we will be looking at 14 years of nothing from either Party.

    Do we feel a little bit pissed off? Well yes Penny we do. You can be a Loopy Happy Clapper all you like but do not ever think we will join you on your crusades.

    Federal Parliament is 20 years behind most of the State Governments and I am guessing that is where your head is at the moment.

    Please Resign now!

  16. Two Wongs don’t make it right!

    1. I support the Labor Party’s position on Same-Sex Marriage.

    2. It also my personal view as a Christian you must respect my religion and the tradition in Australia. I do not personally support Same-Sex Marriage.

    Respect works both ways Penny. Looks like they did not teach you that at Sunday School.

  17. You’re mostly right, DavidW, but a vote for the Greens is not necessarily a vote for Labor. A vote for the Greens is a vote for the Greens.

    In seats like Melbourne, Sydney and Grayndler, the race is between Labor and the Greens, so your Green #1 vote is crucial. In other seats, you can vote #1 for the Greens, and if Labor and Liberal are ahead, your vote will go to whichever of those parties is highest in your prefs.

    In the senate, if you vote for the Greens above the line, your prefs will flow the way the Greens decide. The decision hasn’t been announced yet, but it will almost certainly be Labor ahead of Liberal. If you don’t like this decision, you can vote below the line, putting the Greens candidates first and the other in order of your own preference.

    So this idea of “a vote for the Greens is a vote for Labor” is just an attempt to confuse people about the voting system. You make the decision, not the party.

  18. Sigh, there is a bigger picture here and you still want to waste a bloody good minister in the best option government we have as a community, the one that has delivered more reforms than any other Australian government ever has. I am a Christian Gay male who prefers punk and rock n roll music, we are a big community but we are not all the same. Thankfully Senator Wong isn’t up for relection this time !

  19. Penny Wong says she is a practicing Christian and attends the Pilgrim Uniting Church in Adelaide. She asked us to respect her Church views, and the cultural and traditional views of Australians. She has also asked us to accept the Labor Party position of such discrimination.

    The Church has never ever owned Marriage. I am not going to let them try and start now. Even Imperial China had Same-Sex Marriage. It is simple. You hire a Celebrant, have your celebration and sign the certificate. No brainier really. No fuss, no need for the Church. Millions of Australians have been married this way. No need for discrimination either. The bigots can fuck off.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_Wong
    http://www.pilgrim.org.au/symposium/
    http://www.smh.com.au/federal-election/married-to-the-mob-20100726-10r77.html?comments=46

    I am angry at Penny Wong as she spoke about her personal views, not just that of her Party. She has spoken out against us to the Australian people and the Labor Party arguing we should not have the right Marry.

    What traditional Australia is Penny talking about? The one that did not accept people who were not white? The Australia that did not allow women to vote? I am just not sure what tradition she is talking about. Marriage in Australia has always been changing to meet to the needs of our society. Buddhist can now get hitched with no fuss at all.

    Penny Wong has given a voice to the Christian Right that seeks intolerance and injustice to Australians. Mal who wrote into this forum would not of done so had Penny not given him a voice. They have lit up forums across newspaper websites supporting Penny and talking of hate. She has given a voice to every nutter in the country, to every voice of Christian hate. She has sided with The Australian Christian Lobby against us.

    If she is looking for empathy, I do not have it. I am all out of love for her. She has crossed a line with our community that should never be crossed. You do not use your sexuality against the community. It is a bit like an ex gay saying we can all change if we try hard enough rather then saying I was bisexual and did not understand my sexuality. I have no doubt hate crimes will now rise with voice Penny Wong has given the Christian Right.

    I am voting Green. I am sending a message. If I have Decomocrates on my ballot paper I will put them next, then a lot of candidates and Labor and Liberal Last. This is because intolerance is the last thing Australia needs in the battle for Same-Sex Marriage. Penny has given a great voice to intolerance.

  20. the bottom line remains the same…… We will NOT accept anything less than equality. And yes, we should and do hold Ms. Wong to a gay standard that is above and beyond what we expect from others because the part of the reasons we contributed to her campaign and voted for her is because she is gay. She did not have to make public comment endorsing the party line. She did not have to give those lame reasons. She owes us an apology. Voting Green is the proper response.

  21. OMG I actually agree with someone writing for The Australian, a story headed “A lure for ‘dumb’ gay snipers” bags all the morons having a go at Penny on gay sites.

  22. Pong Wong! That stinks. I will still vote Greens with Labour Preference, and we all must in order to get a balance of Greens in the senate.
    For all purposes, there are so many Australian Citizens who are in love with their partners and deserve the pursuit of happiness just as much as thier fellow citizen regardless of their sexual orientation. If they want to marry, they ought to. True equality is coming (not with the help of many politicians) Other parts of the world are leading Australia in the process. Education is so important, essentially it is a political issue, money is involved at high levels in association with Fundamentalist Churches paying Government bodies.

    We are not second class citizens, therefore I believe, anything less than the ability to be legally married is ultimately not acceptable.

    VOTE GREEN IN THE SENATE PEEPS. But ensure that they do not preference Tony Rabbot.

  23. But that’s just it Joseph, why should Julia Gillard support something just because she’s a woman? Why should Penny Wong support certain things just because she’s a lesbian? Their common ground the the political party they have committed themselves to, not their gender or sexuality. Why has political discourse become so shallow in Australia? Or maybe I should say the United States of Australia.

  24. I imagine this is the new and long awaitied age of female politicians. Wong dumps her community in favour of the party and Gillard dumps mothers (parental leave) and the battlers (pensioners) to secure government. Wong speaks of religion, culture and history as reasons for her failure to support same-sex marriage. Someone should tell this clown that the history of the gay and lesbian movement was all about a stance against these three pillars of society as identified by Wong. It is a totally simplistic approach to appeal to the lowest common denominator. I hope Wong does not see herself as a model for lesbians and I hope the gay and lesbian movement in South Australia does its best to work against her re-election when her time comes up. And was there not a time when religion, culture abnd history were used to deny women the right to vote and take on public office? What’s the point of having a token lesbian in parliament I wonder?

  25. Penny has not at anytime expressed personal views, she was stating the ALP policy and that as a member and Minister she supports that policy. If she did otherwise she would no longer hold either position, that’s the way the ALP works.
    Penny and many others in the ALP continue to argue in caucus, in the cabinet and and at party conferences for further change. But the ALP has rules that bind its members to party policy. All parties in government enforce cabinet solidarity (that’s why Turnbull isn’t in the shadow cabinet, he supports the ETS) She was putting forward the party line, that is what you do if you are in the ALP. Penny has a choice, stay in and work from the inside, or speak out and lose the ability to influence the future debate. I would rather have her inside pushing for change than out and unable to do anything. One day we will have marriage for same sex couples and it will be the ALP that changes the law.

  26. Lap lickers unite. I as an extrovert homosexual male who enjoy some man love believe Penny Bong is on the pong for being wrong and believe she should be given the gong, she’s been in politics to long and needs to be smacked with a thong.

  27. Our rights are stronger now than they have ever been thanks to Labour and Penny Wong. There is a long way to go but don’t bite the hand that is trying to help us up even if it doesn’t seem to be going forward fast enough. Anyone believing the Greens are the only answer and they don’t play party politics is dreaming !

  28. It’s a human rights issue: the right of a child to have a Mum and Dad. Australia – don’t take away this right from your children.

    “Mum, why don’t I have a Daddy?”
    “Because your Mummy likes other mummies”

    To think that our laws may change based solely on selfishness. Australia stand up.

  29. Easy as 1, 2, 3 …

    1. We seem to all agree that a Labor government will need to be in power for us to get equal rights.
    Labor don’t yet have a policy of full equal rights, wheras the Greens do.

    2. We all agree that as a general rule, a vote for Greens is a vote for a Labor government.

    3. Then it is a no brainer that we should all agree to vote for the Greens, to make the journey to equal rights go faster. (Unless we say work for Labor, like Penny Wong who has a “personal belief” that we don’t need equal rights- I’m sure Aboriginals didn’t “need” access to equality in interacial marriages, or access to vote? There was no hurry or big emergency to cater to this small minority group right?? Aboriginals are 2% of the population, and same gender attracted people are 10% of the population)