Penny Wong labelled a hypocrite
Openly gay federal climate change minister Penny Wong is facing a barrage of community criticism tonight following her public declaration of support for the Gillard Government’s stand against gay marriage today.
On Channel Ten this morning Senator Wong said she respected Labor’s view of marriage as an institution between a man and a woman.
‘‘On the issue of marriage I think the reality is there is a cultural, religious, historical view around that which we have to respect”, she said.
Australian Marriage Equality spokesperson, Alex Greenwich, said Senator Wong’s rationale for opposing marriage equality is deeply hypocritical.
“It was once the ‘cultural, religious and historical view’ that women should not be members of parliament, Asians should not be allowed into Australia, and lesbians shouldn’t even exist, yet thankfully all that changed allowing people like Penny Wong to contribute to Australian society at the highest level.”
“By opposing marriage equality, Penny Wong has betrayed gay and lesbian Australians, and by using culture, religion and history to justify this opposition she has betrayed the principles of tolerance and inclusion that have given her immense opportunities as a lesbian woman of Chinese descent.”
“If culture, religion and history were sound reasons for upholding discrimination there would be no Senator Penny Wong.”
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Potts Point resident David Polson was more direct.
“Penny Wong is a disgrace. Yet another reason to vote for The Greens in the Senate,” he wrote to Sydney Star Observer after Wong’s comments.
Scott Hill from Paddington also wrote to the paper immediately after Wong’s comments.
“Your rationale that there are ‘cultural, religious, historical view(s) around that which we have to respect’ is simply not good enough.
“We ask you therefore whether you would have opposed enfranchisement for women, which was in opposition to ‘existing cultural, religious, historical views’.
“Naturally you would also have opposed the end to slavery, as there were also ‘cultural, religious (and) historical views’ that wanted it kept.
“We live in the 21st century. It is time Labor, followed the example of Britain and so many other countries and dragged itself out of the 18th. “
Community Action Against Homophobia (CAAH) has organised a formal protest against the Gillard Government’s anti-gay marriage stance for this week.
Eggs will be thrown at effigies of Gillard and Opposition leader Tony Abbott at Taylor Square at 5pm this Thursday.
“With so much disappointment and disillusionment at both the major parties, this event is designed as a fun way for people to express their frustration at both Abbott and Gillard on issues such as the ban on our marriage rights,” CAAH co-convenor Ben Cooper said.
Each egg will cost $1, with the funds raised going towards the next mass demonstration for equal marriage rights in Sydney on Saturday August 14, Town Hall at 1pm.
Good on you John.
I was getting rather tired myself of this Generation Y mob treating us 80’s queens like some irrelevant dinosaurs.
If generation Y had not been ordering drugs instead of a beer most of the gay bars in Oxford street would still be open.
Us 80’s queens fought more battles than this Y mob could ever dream of.Police harassment, Aids,The most fantastic Mardi Parades the world has ever seen.
So don’t try to consign us to the history books.
I’m amazed by the self-indulgent ranting here. I’m stunned by the bordering on racist ‘humor’ expressed above.
People should grow up, the Greens will never form a federal Govt. Our choices are the ALP or the Coalition.
Given the list of practical benefits labor introduced for my partner and I (and our daughter) over the last 12 months – as opposed to the 11 years of systematic abuse by the coalition. I’m now on our daughters birth certificate and I wouldn’t be if it want for labor.
I know who I will vote for.
Anything else is self-indulgent.
Nasty headline for another Senator Wong story, I thought the SSO was above this shit but it reads “Just in case you missed it, here’s out gay Senator Penny Wong taking a knife to years of pressure for gay marriage and killing off a lot of the respect the gay community once held for her”, that’s just appalling and i would expect that from the straight tabloids but it looks like the media is the media no matter how you dress it. Penny Wong is part of a party that has delivered a hell of a lot of reforms for us from a situation where it was never likely to happen. To get bogged bogged down on a singular issue makes no sense. Change will come but to destroy the best chance at change is frought with danger and to sully the debate with other issues like the ETS and illegal immigrants makes no sense at all. Focus not hocus pocus.
I cannot believe the way our community is turning on the first federal Labor member of parliament prepared to come out while in office as well as our first out cabinet minister. It is actually horrible to watch. Don’t members of our community know that Labor cabinet ministers have been bound by the principle of cabinet solidarity ever since the the Hawke period (i.e. they can’t disagree with cabinet/party positions) – never mind that Labor backbenchers are also meant to be bound by party policy? If you read Wong’s statements carefully, she has never once said that her own personal view is that same-sex marriage is wrong. The most she has said in the recent interview is that she is a member of a political party so has to support their policy and that she respects community views. See http://ten.com.au/media/MTP_25_July_2010.doc. ((Note politicians often say they respect views they personally disagree with)
Why don’t we pick on the right-wing heterosexual Labor MPs who have opposed our rights rather than an out lesbian Labor parliamentarian who has consistently fought for same-sex law reform and made passionate speeches in support of it in parliament? Why don’t we pick on heterosexual Nicola Roxon who summarily announced Labor’s opposition to same-sex marriage at a religious right rally at parliament house in 2004? Or why don’t we denounce heterosexual Kevin Rudd for doing a deal with the Australian Christian Lobby on both same-sex marriage and civil unions prior to the 2007 election? Why don’t we pick on the religious right in the liberal party? Why on earth are we picking on Penny Wong who isn’t responsible for any of this and is clearly between a rock and a hard place? Why pick on Wong of all people???
She obviously is happy with her position in life and is willing to settle for a seat in the back of the bus as long as she can keep her cushy job. What is it with Julia and Penny ? One,supposedly straight, who can’t cook,living in sin with her hairdresser boyfriend who does….. and the other supposedly gay, dressing in men’s suits…..both saying Gays shouldn’t be allowed to get married…… if it weren’t so sad, I would laugh…..
I am shifting my support and resources to the Greens…It will cause a coalition government BUT it might be our ticket to gay marriage…..
@DavidW. Dude get over yourself. Those so called 80’s queens paved the way for Generation Y queens like yourself to enjoy the rights and freedoms that you enjoy today. And you can also cut out the generalisations about living in Darlinghurst flats. I’m one of those 80’s queens & I OWN a lovely apartment in Darling Point with harbour views because I CHOOSE to & can AFFORD inner city living. I also have a very diverse group of gay & straight friends & am very close with my family (albeit they do live in the suburbs). I also met my partner of 15 years at a dinner party not in a nightclub. Oh & 80’s music ROCKS – way better than the crap that is churned out today.
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, and various people posting comments about how 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 right??.)
Stephen is right. Parties do expect party solidarity from their politicians. This includes the Greens. The difference is that the Greens expect their politicians to SUPPORT marriage equality, whereas the other parties in parliament expect their pollies to oppose it. So you can vote for a Labor or Liberal candidate who says nice things but can’t do anything in parliament, or a Green candidate who will actually represent your view in parliament, not just in their party.
@Stephen and @steven guy; you both claim that Penny Wong is “working from the inside to effect change” – but that is not supported by her public actions and words. Sorry, but I take a person by their words and actions not promises of what they might or might not be doing behind closed doors – and on that basis Wong is nothing more than a hypocritical, gutless, convictionless Labor Party hack.
Wong has shown her willingness to do about faces on the ETS, about faces on the environment, and about faces on same-sex relationship rights. Like Albanese and Plibersek – who both openly support legislation that discriminates against homosexuals and, in Albanese’s case, actually stated that “[gays] should be happy with what we’ve been given” – they are political functionaries who’s only interest is in getting their generous parliamentary pension.
This is the same woman who, in 2006, said:
“I hope there will come a time when this country can look back and wonder why some in this place and some in this government were so frightened of and antagonistic to certain types of relationships. I look to a day, to paraphrase a great man, when we not only judge people by the content of their character but also where we judge their relationships by markers such as respect, commitment, love and security and not by the gender of their partners.”
“I look to a day when government policy and articulation is not so mired in prejudice.
“I look to a day when we have a government that is not so mired in prejudice that it can address these issues fairly. One thing I do know is that that will only come under a Labor government.”
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/opinion/editorial/general/married-to-the-mob/1895318.aspx
Steven, the issue was aired very briefly and cut short on Q&A last night, not ‘at length’.
Andy, the Tory/Liberal UK govt is moving to allow civil partnerships in churches etc. this parliament and the Libs deputy leader has said he expects them to move towards gay marriage in the next couple of years.
I and my guests will be discussing the Wong issue tonight on Grumpy Old Poufs, streaming live from Melbourne 8-9pm tonight, http://www.joy.org.au/listenlive
The Labour party has delivered more reforms to our communtiy than any other Australian Governamnt has and we are going to oust them because of a word. Penny Wong has stood her ground in the face of the party machine and helped win these for us and you want to throw eggs at her because of a word. If you think going Green is the answer and they deserve your vote because of a word then I think you only have self interest at heart. And to just use 11 words from Graham Richardson is inflamatory, the entire issue was discussed on Q&A on the ABC last night at length.
Penny Wong is not a sell out, only an idiot would think so. She and many others in the ALP have campaigned hard for change, this year my partner and I were able to lodge tax returns as a couple, it saved us $786 in Medicare Surcharge, lets all remember, there has been a total removal of discrimination from federal laws bar one.
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.
Read more: http://www.news.com.au/features/federal-election/ive-suffered-gay-discrimination-penny-wong/comments-e6frfllr-1225897278260#ixzz0uqeL4h7A
Actually Matt, in the UK civil unions or civil partnerships are expressly banned from being carried out in churches and you can’t have forgotten the threat of veto by the Howard and Rudd Government used to block the inclusion of ceremonial aspects in the ACT’s civil unions.
You may be able to find a church that will bless you after your relationship has been recognised by the Government, or even before, but no church or celebrant can register your relationship like they can with heterosexuals- nor are they likely to be allowed to as its precisely the ceremonial aspect which Liberal and Labor say is threatening in ‘mimicing’ marriage.
To the question of civil unions/partnerships:-
There is nothing stopping Civil union/partnership being conducted by a celebrant or carried out in a church.
(I am more thinking Metropolitan Community, not St Mary’s)
It gets worse! Quote in today’s SMH from a senior Labor POWERbroker-
“many ALP members were opposed to the homosexual civil rights measures.” Graham Richardson.
link- http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/ive-suffered-gay-discrimination-wong-20100727-10sxo.html
Wow- so maybe we just shouldn’t be voting Labor until they sort that one out! We either set up our own political party, or we just vote for the Greens.
“eggs will be thrown at effigies..”
What the f***? What is that going to do other than make us look like idiots?
It’s not about Family First or Greens, Labour or Liberal, man or woman. It’s about Love. Please support Same Sex marriage.
Please visit http://galewa.asn.au/action-alert/ it takes literally a minute to fill out your name, email address and a short message of your choice to send to about 30 pre-selected local community papers. The goal is 50 messages of support published in 5 days.
Love to all
I don’t know why we’re so surprised, frankly. Gillard has made her position clear – and PW is a minister within that party. The Labour Party is currently against same-sex marriage. The opposition would be worse.
She’s a politician. They only care about votes. While preferences still go to Labour, voting Green sends a message that equality is long overdue in this country.
Once a polly, always a polly – tsk, tsk, polly wong.
Baz, if same sex unions are not called “marriages”, they’ll never be recognised as equal to hetrosexual marriages.
I’m so tired of the political process being completely geared towards opinion polls. Don’t these people stand for anything?
Whether she is wrong or not, I think it’s hypocritical that people are writing in with the slogan/gag ‘So Wong’.
In my books that’s racist!
So what are we saying, it’s ok to make a racist joke because we are offended by another form of bigotry?
Now THAT’S Hypocritical!
Whether shi s wrong or not, I think its hypocritical that people are writing in with the slogan ‘So Wong’.
In my books that’s racist!
So what are we saying, it’s ok to make a racist joke because we are offended by another form of bigotry?
Now THAT’S Hypocritical!
Civil Marriage, in a government registry office….. or your choice of a big wedding.
That way we can be as annonymous or as public as we want.
When filling in employment forms etc, we can just tick Married or Single- unlike those in the UK who have to tick “Civil Unionised” & are instantly outed !!!!!
It’s sooooo simple, convenient, private, and humane to just grant us access to Civil Marriage in a Government Registry office. As a bonus though, there are lots of churches that are also willing to perform same sex weddings for those who want something a bit more public & splashy than just a marriage in a registry office.
I hope this covers all Matt’s points… well in regards to the cockring- if you haven’t noticed the Oxford St clones era has ended- gays can now live very diverse lives in the suburbs & don’t have to go nightclubbing to find a boyfried.
And instead of flocking to Darlinghurst to live in flats, they can live anywhere & are more intergrated with thier families, & YES, some would like to have a wedding where they can genuinely celebrate thier relationship with thier partner with thier extended family.
Julia Gillard said she is an 80’s dag- well Matt, you sound like some of the Labor die-hards who are also stuck in the gay-clone era of the 80’s that’s now well & truly dead, as gays intergrate into thier suburbs & extended families & the traditional gay bars are closing like dominos. This new breed of gays are rejecting that outdated Labor stick in the mud attitude that gays are second class citizens & like any GenYer’s, they want full respect (equality) & they want it NOW!
I wonder what Penny’s partner thinks of her support for NEVER having the choice of marrying her? How amazingly embarassing.
Its difficult to think that anyone would tolerate such hateful comments. And all for a nice fat salary and super…!
Your principles were rented cheap, Penny. You had the opportunity to make a real difference while still being committed to official policy – instead you chose the Dark Side – your comments are going to be used by the weird religious right to “demonstrate” that not even gay people support marriage. Your comments have done a grave disservice to the community.
You should resign in shame. But of course, you won’t. You will just pocket your salary and smile.
Wong: “On the issue of marriage I think the reality is there is a cultural, religious, historical view around that which we have to respect.”
Really, Penny? That’s the same argument that was used in times past to justify a ban against interracial and/or interfaith marriages, and to support segregation, slavery and apartheid, stolen children and the oppression of women.
I am astonished that you would consider a Minister of the Parliament, sworn to uphold the Laws of this Nation, could even consider expressing any contrary point of view.
Your attempts to espouse the old White Australia Policy slogan ” TWO WONGS DON’T MAKE A WHITE ” adds nothing to your ‘ hypocrisy argument … and comes straight out of the old ‘ DO THE WORLD A FAVOUR AND KILL A POOFTER ‘ era.
The times when members of the gay community were imprisoned for no better reason than their lifestyle and even the Police bashed them in the streets !!
Just because not everyone supports your personal view of Marriage, don’t assume they are against it … many in our community could really care less and are turned off by your hyperbole.
Penny has done a more than adequate job in her Ministry, which has nothing to do with your personal issues, and deserves your support not your abuse.
Wong is no better than the jews who collaborated with the nazis in World War 2.
Penny Wong just gives all the christians, homo phobes, and biggots,amunition and they will say see she agrees and she is a lesbian””’WONG””
Labor are afraid they’ll lose votes and seats to the Liberals if they back gay marriage. How hilarious it will be if they end up losing votes and seats to the Greens for not backing it.
Dear Petty Wrong,
Last night I sat and watched the debate and was happy to see Jullia bet Tony knowing that as a secular women she didnt agree with our gay and lesbian rights however I did not believe that the control of personal opinion would be controlled by the ALP and maybe just maybe Penny Wong might one day speak up for us second class citizens (because she was one of us) – how wrong I was! I had no doubt that I was going to vote Labour – this has now changed. Greens now get my vote PERIOD
Tomorrow I head off to the International Gay Games along with 300+ other Australians including lesbians, Australians of Asian decent. Shame Shame we won’t have our governments support in Germany.