Parents to make final plea

A group of parents of gay and lesbian children will today meet with federal Attorney-General Robert McClelland to discuss their concerns about the lack of marriage equality in Australia ahead of a final push for supporters of same-sex marriage to co

ntact their MPs before they report back on the issue to Parliament in August.

The Star Observer understands the group of 10 parents, led by PFLAG national spokeswoman Shelley Argent (pictured), will meet with McClelland over lunch in Brisbane.

Speaking before the meeting, Argent said she hoped to send a clear message to politicians through McClelland that marriage equality was progressing in many countries and that Australians wanted the same here.

“This legislation will cost virtually zero to implement, but will mean so much to so many individuals and their families,” Argent said.

“Marriage is about emotional security and planning a future together. It clarifies legal commitments between two people and issues of next-of-kin, encourages fidelity and it lessens depression in individuals because it make people feel valued.

These are things we as parents want all of our children to benefit from, not just most.”

Argent said she recognised that today not all Australians wanted to get married but parents of gays and lesbians wanted them to have the same choices as everyone else.

“Our gay sons and lesbian daughters pay their taxes and are expected to contribute equally to society the same as anyone else,” Argent said. “As parents, we can provide a secure, stable home life, provide our children with the best education, provide for their every want or need, but we cannot provide or buy their equality — only the government can provide this.”

Joining Argent will be Australian Marriage Equality (AME) national and deputy convenors Alex Greenwich and Sharon Dane, and Tasmanian activist Rodney Croome.

Ahead of the lunch, Greenwich told the Star Observer AME hoped to use the meeting to discuss inequalities around marriage on a number of fronts.

“This lunch will be a great opportunity for us to gauge the Attorney-General’s thoughts on the issue and put our case forward,” Greenwich said. “We also hope to discuss the issue of the Government not supplying Certificates of No

Impediment (CNIs) to wed to same-sex couples seeking to marry overseas.”

And with members of Parliament due to report back on their consultations with constituents on same-sex marriage, AME and progressive lobby group GetUp! are making a final push to get supporters to contact their MPs.

“To all those supporters of marriage equality who ask me, ‘What should I do and when should I do it,’ email your MP now, and get five friends and family members to do the same”, Greenwich said. “We have less than a month to share your support with your MP, and AME and GetUp! will help you be heard”

“The more emails we send, the more MPs will report support in their constituencies and the more out-of-touch the leadership of both major parties will appear.”

GetUp! spokesman Paul Mackay said people power had made the consultations happen and people power would now give politicians a reason to come out as supporters.

“More than 12,000 GetUp! members wrote to their MPs demanding community consultation happen — now we need all supporters of equality to arm those MPs with reasons to support same-sex marriage,” Mackay said.

“When MPs rise in Parliament to report back on the views of their constituents, they should be making the case for an Australia that is fair and a Marriage Act that is built on love, not exclusion. Make sure that happens by calling, faxing, emailing or visiting your MP and sharing with them your story.”