ALP cops internal marriage backlash
The push for a parliamentary debate on marriage equality is growing, with the ALP’s left faction pushing for a policy reversal on the issue and independent Senator Nick Xenophon adding his voice to those calling for a conscience vote.
Last week in Canberra, 130 members of the national Left of the ALP came together to demand key policy shifts of the Government as polls showed the party was continuing to bleed votes to the Greens.
The Labor Left have called for the party to reverse its opposition to same-sex marriage, to allow MPs more leeway in speaking their minds, and for the rank and file of the party to have a greater say in forming policies.
Later in the week Left faction co-convenor Senator Doug Cameron told Fairfax papers that there would be a “huge push” for the party to support same-sex marriage at the next Federal ALP conference in June next year.
Cameron called the ALP’s current policy on the issue “bizarre”, and said governments and parties should not be telling people how to live their lives.
Australian Marriage Equality (AME) campaign coordinator Rodney Croome told Southern Star Observer he was finding private support for marriage equality across the parliament and political lines.
“Last week representatives of AME spoke with many Labor, Coalition and independent MPs, and we were encouraged by the increased level of support for marriage equality,” he said.
“We were pleased with the outcome of a meeting with Senator Xenophon, who indicated strong support for a conscience vote on marriage equality and openness to discussing the need for that reform although his preference is for a national civil union scheme.
“AME believes a national civil union scheme will not provide same-sex partners with equal rights and recognition and will be a road block to marriage equality rather than a step towards it, but we respect Senator Xenophon’s serious consideration of the issues and look forward to talking with him further.”
Senator Xenophon confirmed the meeting and said he understood support for civil unions in the GLBTI community was mixed.
“Some feel it’s at least a step in the right direction, others say that it would hold back the cause of equality in terms of same-sex marriage,” he told Southern Star Observer.
“My position is not that of the Greens and others, but my position is still much further than the two major parties.”
Xenophon left open the possibility that he might be persuaded by arguments for marriage equality.
“This should be a conscience vote for the major parties. I will keep an open mind to the arguments, but what I am sure of is that at the very least we need to go down the path of civil unions,” he said.
Let’s give EVERYONE the option of a church OR a civil marriage. If a religious representative marries you, then you are ‘married’, if a civil celebrant does it, then you have a ‘civil union’ – regardless of your gender/sexuality.
Give the term marriage back to the churches. Make the legal rights and responsibilities the same, but separate the terms. NOT based on the sex of the couple, but on whether it took place in a setting blessed by God.
How many couples are on their 2nd, 3rd or 7th church marriage? Where is the sanctity? Swallowed by hypocrisy.
Give the word Marriage back to God, but enforce/enable equality under the Law. Separation of Church and State – what happened to that?
Check out http://www.thepotentialweddingalbum.org for the photos and stories of almost 200 same-sex couples who want the option to get married in Australia. This is what marriage equality could look like!
There is no good reason to deny gay couples the right to a civil marriage. Atheists, Rationalists and Humanists see the denial of full Human rights to Gay couples as pandering to the religious right. The religious right do not have an exclusive right to shape policy for all Australians. The lines between Church and State have been blurred in recent decades and all Australians have had the religious ideals of others imposed upon them. There is in this day and age no good reason to discriminate against a section of the population and must stop. Let Australia be a place for all Australians
Whenever the subject of Marriage Equality is brought up on other forums (The Drum, The Punch etc) I always respond with the following.
How can the government send openly gay/lesbian defence force members to fight, and offer their lives in service of this country, supposedly to protect our “freedoms” (ie christianity), yet deny them equality under the law.
Maybe when the first dead gay soldier is brought back in a body bag the bigots will finally get it.
The same applies to our gay police, emergency workers etc, all on the frontline for the benefit of the greater good, all denied equality under the law.
The ONLY objections to gay marriage seem to be coming from “the church”, you know, those christians who our gay soldiers are fighting for, in this supposed secular society.
SO agree with you! Gillard has the gall to raise human rights issues with the Chinese at the recent East Asian Summit yet she is ABUSING the human rights of GLBT people!!! Why is she any different to the Chinese???
Over a million Australians have had a Civil Marriage. You hire a celebrant, have your celebration with your family and friends and sign off. The Government should have Same-Sex Marriage and Civil Unions for people not based on the sexuality of the individual.
Some people do see Marriage as to Churchy and would like a Civil Union option. This option should not be based on your sexuality and open to all. Not to be used to single out or persecute us.
Tony Abbott and Julia Gillard give a terrorist more rights then we have. They give Australia