Rudd says ‘it gets better’
Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd is the latest public figure to lend his voice to global anti-homophobia campaign It Gets Better.
In the video Rudd said Australia has a zero tolerance to bullying.
“This message is for the young folk in our schools who are bullied because they are gay.”
“In Australia it’s reported that one in two LGBTI teens experiences bullying at school. It’s got to stop.
“Let me say quite simply, it’s not okay.”
Rudd joins US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, British Prime Minister David Cameron, Queensland Premier Anna Bligh and a host of community leaders and celebrities lending support to the anti-homophobia campaign.
“Together we can work to fight discrimination,” Rudd said.
“Australia is a country that prides itself on diversity and that is why we need to challenge homophobia in schools and in our communities.
“Because if we say it is unacceptable then it will get better.”
Rudd’s It Gets Better message appeared following discussions at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Perth in which Rudd raised the issue of criminalisation of homosexuality.
A spokeswoman for Rudd’s office told the Star Observer Rudd yesterday raised the issue with Commonwealth foreign ministers.
“He strongly declared Australia’s position on decriminalisation, and our determination to continue to advocate for LGBT rights within the Commonwealth and more broadly,” she said.
It’s understood Canadian foreign minister John Baird was the only other foreign minister to join Australia’s calls.
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Iain says…”Dax, when you are resorting to semantics to wriggle out of your corner then I will assume the ‘abundance of historical data’ supporting your position has run dry.”
Iain I’m sorry but this sentence is riddled with so many syntax errors I truly have no idea as to what it is you’re saying. As far as myself being a bigot, perhaps I am rather intolerant of other people’s assertive ignorance towards historical fact.
Your comment to Dave, quote, “Dave, I am seeking a police state based on my understanding of the Bible in much the same way you are seeking one based on your understanding of English grammar.” is indicative of a theocracy, very similar to that of IRAN and again quite strange as you correlate theocracy with grammar. I cannot find the connection between the two, but you obviously do. I personally find that comment dangerous to free secular thought. May I remind you Australia is a secular nation? And rightly so may I add.
I suspect there are other factors at play here that have contributed towards this confusion and thus I shall refrain from denigrating you any further.
Ricky J to quote you….”I find it a little funny that homosexuals are challenging to be included in an institution that has never included them in scripture”
My argument against you is that during the first millennium christian denominations did in fact perform gay marriages, due in part to the fact that Christ never spoke out against homosexuality. Now I ask you this; how is this twisting your words to suit myself? They’re your words and your comment regarding scripture is factually wrong. Christ never spoke out against homosexuality, which is a fact. Other disciples may have, but Christ did not.
Your comment, “Religious institutions will NEVER accept gay marriage – gay people need to stop howling through those doors, looking for acceptance”, IS discriminatory and again ignorant of the historical facts surrounding the performance of marriage ceremonies with Christs blessing.
Now I ask you this Ricky…If Kevin Rudd or the government for that matter were sincere in anti bullying why wasn’t this message broadcast on all the main free to air television stations during prime time? Why wasn’t it printed in the mainstream newspapers? Why wasn’t it aired on ABC radio? I do hope it is being shown in state schools. My personal opinion is that it was made with no real conviction or attempt to address the issue. It’s just more spin.
In contrast I do agree with you that bullying is a social disease, one that should be addressed, but one that should be addressed wholeheartedly instead of a miniscule 1.5 minute presentation on YouTube.
In conclusion may I suggest that the both of you, Iain and Ricky, read Matthew 7:15, Jeremiah 23:16, Acts 20:29, Romans 16:17 and my favourite 2 Peter 2:1 and do some serious rethinking. peace. xx
Iain uses the same arguments all the time, menacing us as he blames us for the many things that did not go well in his own life. Many of his post here and on other websites are the same hateful crap. But we do not have to prove anything to a hater of us and other Christians. Iain cannot prove his hate is valid.
We can guess what Iain does all day in his QLD shed with access to the internet …
By disease, I meant bullying, just in case I got bashed for that comment too ;)
Dax – an icon that can be argued till the cows come home doesn’t discount a FACT that you cannot argue with… And that is that little black book or scroll depending on your religious beliefs – bible, quran, Tanakh… I can argue religion with you all day long but that isn’t what I was saying – you are twisting what I said to suit yourself – Kevin Rudd should be commended for the fact that he is a voice for being a decent human being and fighting bullying and discrimination. I too, being of different ethnicity have had a degree of discrimination in my time, so in short, NOBODY deserves to be discriminated against… His message rings true to that premise. Gay marriage has nothing to do with discrimination. Religious institutions will NEVER accept gay marriage – gay people need to stop howling through those doors, looking for acceptance… They have it. Homosexuality is accepted in society today – just remember where and what marriage came from. Homosexuality doesnt work in religion unless gay people decree their own values and call it a faith. Marriage is a covenant between man and woman… Seriously, gay people should decree a gay institution and call their union a different term, which can hold similar values… Muslims allow polygamy, that is a frowned upon but accepted cultural doctrine of that faith… All I was saying – this Kevin Rudd bashing is inappropriate especially when he is fighting such a detrimental disease in our communities… Stop bagging him regardless of your views and support anti bullying… This is a voice, and more of them should stand up and scream the message with him… And anybody standing up to this disease in our communities…
Dax, when you are resorting to semantics to wriggle out of your corner then I will assume the ‘abundance of historical data’ supporting your position has run dry. Whilst we are on the topic of semantics, I guess I am a bigot towards your point of view, in much the same way you are towards mine.
Dave, I am seeking a police state based on my understanding of the Bible in much the same way you are seeking one based on your understanding of English grammar. By the way, why is it you insist I am that Iain Hall bloke? Have you not realised that more than one person can have the same first name?
Iain is Christian lobby troll from way back. He stalks this site and others. He seeks a police state based on his poor understand of the Bible, and abuses us and good Christians. He has never worked and lives in shed in remote QLD.
I agree with the people who are supportive of Rudd’s message. Yes, it would be nice if he supported same-sex marriage, and I would agree that, in some ways, it does detract from what he’s saying.
That said, I think that some of the criticism I’ve read here is a bit unfair. The fact that a high up politician (one who used to be PM, no less) is getting involved in the It Gets Better Project speaks volumes. It shows that, not only does he know about this issue, but he cares enough to do something about it.
So, although I, too, wish KRudd supported same-sex marriage, particularly when he was PM, I’m still really glad he did this.
Iain…..at no time have I stated that the church has ‘promoted’ gay marriage. I used the word ‘sanctioned’ meaning it approved of it. What is truly ‘ridiculous’ is that most christian bigots have their eyes closed. May I suggest they open them and look around, there is an abundance of historical data supporting my claim that the church at one time didn’t discriminate……If you read the bible as you read my comments then no wonder the christian community is as blind to the truth as it is. Are you a Christian bigot Iain….just asking? Please enlighten me. I was born not to judge, only to love. xx
Dax, your argument is no better than Ricky’s. Your suggestion that ‘the church’ promoted homosexual marriage is ridiculous to say the least. That obscure icon could be interpreted in many different ways, and even if you do chose to interpret it in the way you did, it is obviously the exception not the rule.
While I congratulate the Foreign Minister for putting himself out there… I watched this video and Rudd said… ‘There is zero tolerance for bullying in Australia… Rudd said…’the entire country support you’… he also said ‘it was being backed by the USA and the UK… firstly… THAT IS NOT TRUE… there are many homophobes in Australia (just try walking down the street holding the hand of a same gendered person), there are many people who bully (I see it at school and in work places)… and in each of those countries AUSTRALIA, USA and UK, those governments ALL support organisations that perpetuate homophobia!(any religious organisation!) So if you REALLY want things to GET BETTER… change the laws that allow people to kill others on the grounds of ‘gay defense’, make it illegal for religious groups to spread hate about gay people… stop organisations from discriminating against gay people… make it compulsory in schools to INCLUDE GENDER STUDIES on the curriculum, allow gay marriage, stop allowing the media to type cast gay people. So if you are really serious… things will get better!!
@ Ricky and in support of Sarah… A non-religious ceremony between straight couples is called marriage yet no-one gets upset about that. If you want marriage to remain religious, change the name of non-religious marriages to something else and let’s all be identified not by our sexuality but by our religion or atheism
Married is a legal status. It has nothing to do with religion. Wake up christians and smell the homophobia.
Ricky J…..you need to get a decent education on the history of church sanctioned gay marriage that goes beyond the some what primary evidence you have just provided…..Have a read of this….Do some intelligent research……
As churches struggle with the issue of homosexuality, a long tradition of same sex marriage indicates that the Christian attitude toward same sex unions may not always have been as “straight” as is now suggested. A Kiev art museum contains a curious icon from St. Catherine’s monastery on Mt. Sinai.
It shows two robed Christian saints. Between them is a traditional Roman pronubus (best man) overseeing what in a standard Roman icon would be the wedding of a husband and wife. In the icon, Christ is the pronubus. Only one thing is unusual. The husband and wife are in fact two men.
Care to respond???????
“he doesn’t support marriage equality” – Um, it goes deeper than that & is much much worse than that- you see he supported the EXTRA DISCRIMINATIION written into law in 2004 to CONTINUE under his watch in 2007. He re-iterated the “importance” of the EXTRA DISCRIMINATION at a Christian Extremist Gay Hate Rally organised by the ACL Lobby with Rudd as Key Note Speaker. Shame! The least he can do is now voice his support to removing the EXTRA 2004 discrimination, even if he doesn’t want to go any further. But if he did go further, to actually endorsing Equal Civil Marriage, then that would make his “It Gets Better Message” have alot more power.
@N:
Believe it or not, we are not a minority; and we don’t want more rights than anyone else. We want -equal- rights. I don’t want any of this “you can still get married if you’re gay, so long as you marry someone of the opposite sex.”, because once Gay Marriage is legalised, you will have the same rights (and more) to marry. Would you accept the fact that straight marriage is illegal, and “if you’re straight and want to get married, marry someone of the same sex.”? I didn’t think so.
Disingenuous attention seeking. I don’t want this message coming from him given his history on civil rights and the gay community.
He’s not even talking about marriage or legality of their relationships. He’s saying discrimination is wrong and is supporting them in standing up against bullying in schools. At least he’s saying something. A lot of people don’t when they’re in positions of power or influence, unless it’s cheap media gimmicks.
““This message is for the young folk in our schools who are bullied because they are gay.”
“In Australia it’s reported that one in two LGBTI teens experiences bullying at school. It’s got to stop.
“Let me say quite simply, it’s not okay.””
^ Schools are mentioned more than once. Marriage and religion, are not.
Marriage is a religious tradition. You obviously don’t care about religion. So stop caring about marriage. So sick of this “we’re a minority so we deserve everything” attitude.
It is always rather tragic and unbelievable when Christians try to be ‘with it’!
@Chrys: Disagree. He’s become part of a global voice against bullying/violence against homosexuals. That doesn’t mean he’s being hypocritical if he doesn’t support changing the marriage act? I for one am proud that he’s lending his weight to the cause, and I think cynicism is unhelpful/unnecessary :)
[…] Rudd says ‘it gets better’ […]
We are very proud of you Mr. Rudd for standing up and putting your voice to a very serious issue. The number of suicides caused by bullying is intolerable. And you should still be our Prime Minister.
without marriage equality its just a mixed message…
I don’t think so Chrys. It doesn’t seem inconsistent to feel that bullying people is wrong, regardless of whether you believe the definition of marriage provides for that type of union between those people.
Go K-Rudd! Man, I really hope he becomes our PM again one day!
And did Mr. Rudd deliver that speech with a Christian Church steeple in the background?
Mr. Rudd must tackle the root of this homophobia.
Someone remind me of that little incident involving Mr Rudd,an Air Hostess and a plate of sandwiches on board an RAAF plane a few years ago – was that bullying?
To Chrys – Marriage is a Christian / Jewish / Islamic constitution between a man and a woman. According to these institutions the whole premise of “marriage” is the celebration of the union Strictly between man and woman. As much as the world has changed, tolerance etc towards sexuality has changed, I find it a little funny that homosexuals are challenging to be included in an institution that has never included them in scripture. I am not homophobic, but I think the term marriage, and what it represents is strictly a union between man and woman. Having said that, I am in no way opposed to gay people committing a relationship to one another. May I suggest finding a new definition, albeit, a new institution where a union is outside the confines of religious beliefs and based on acceptance of all sexual orientation. I think here Mr. Rudd is correct, in that he doesn’t support bullying, at the same time, the gay community have to accept that some institutions will not allow for them to be united. He can accept them as people, and respect them as people, but Mr. Rudd is also bound by his going to church every Sunday faith…. I don’t think it’s hypocritical… I think you are looking for any excuse to pull the trigger on labour… shallow mindedness
Rudd’s declaration that discrimination is not acceptable rings a bit hollow when he doesn’t support marriage equality, doesn’t it? If he doesn’t support same-sex marriage now, he’s going to look like a big ol’ hypocrite.