Note: This post is long, I have a lot to say...
It's a long time coming...
The issue of same sex marriage is currently a hot topic here in Australia. There are three private members bills before the Federal Parliament:
"A private bill, amending the Marriage Act to include same-sex couples, has been introduced to federal parliament by Labor MP Stephen Jones.
Another bill is being jointly proposed by Australian Greens MP Adam Bandt and independent Andrew Wilkie.
Both bills have been referred to parliamentary committees for detailed examination.
A third bill, proposed by the Greens, will be considered in the Senate." (from story, second link below)
The issue has polarised the community. In the last few months there have been hateful anti-gay political ads, extensive mobilisation of Catholic anti-gay sentiment and general anti-gay rhetoric motivated by hate and ignorance (for eg. refer to links at bottom of post). It surprises and angers me that in today's 'modern' society there are still people who make comments that compare gay marriage to incest, that state that children from gay marriages suffer from identity crises and that homosexuality can be cured. Dr David Phillips of Family Voice Australia is one such person. His comments are documented in the article by Stephen Johnson from the third link below. One comment from the same article by Bishop Julian Porteous is particularly offensive and ignorant:
"If the definition of marriage is changed, it threatens this whole understanding of our own identity, and in turn that will lead to people being less secure about who they are and that can lead to society being damaged."
Shelley Argent from Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (same article, third link below), gave a very good rebuttal to this comment:
"If they did have a gay son or a lesbian daughter and they took the time to understand the issues, they would know what nonsense they're talking about."
The fact is that they don't understand the issues, nor do they even try to. Religious groups, more specifically Catholics, tend to be even more hateful and discriminatory than other groups. Take for instance, the recent situation in Victoria (the second link below). Six Catholic Bishops decided to circulate 80,000 letters encouraging their parishioners to voice their opposition to gay marriage to their local representatives.The argument being that same sex marriage will have grave ramifications for society, there needs to be a push to protect traditional families, and that agreeing to same sex marriage will open the door to polygamy. (from story, second link below)
"Families and societies are only strengthened when couples are allowed to commit to each other through marriage," national convenor of Australian Marriage Equality Alex Greenwich said.
"So to hear Archbishop Hart discouraging any recognition of this commitment is extraordinary and heartless." (from story, second link below)
It doesn't help when supposed 'gay friendly' people make comments claiming that marriage between two people of the same sex doesn't make sense. Such as the comment posted by 'Keira whose not a hater of Sydney' in response to the Catholic Bishops article (second link below). Such comments show not only ignorance, but also discriminative views sugar-coated to appear supportive. These types of comments have the potential to cause more damage than openly hateful ones because they are under-handed.
The issue of marriage equality in Australia has progressed a long way, and discussion and political consideration has been a long time coming, but equality isn't here yet and we need to keep the pressure on the policy makers. We need our voices to be just as loud, if not louder, than those opposing marriage equality.
Anti-gay ad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wY8N2xSU3c0
http://www.news.com.au/national/catholic-church-marshalls-anti-gay-marriage-army/story-e6frfkvr-1226314176079
http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/newshome/13404005/gay-marriage-likened-to-incest-at-inquiry/
It's a long time coming...
The issue of same sex marriage is currently a hot topic here in Australia. There are three private members bills before the Federal Parliament:
"A private bill, amending the Marriage Act to include same-sex couples, has been introduced to federal parliament by Labor MP Stephen Jones.
Another bill is being jointly proposed by Australian Greens MP Adam Bandt and independent Andrew Wilkie.
Both bills have been referred to parliamentary committees for detailed examination.
A third bill, proposed by the Greens, will be considered in the Senate." (from story, second link below)
The issue has polarised the community. In the last few months there have been hateful anti-gay political ads, extensive mobilisation of Catholic anti-gay sentiment and general anti-gay rhetoric motivated by hate and ignorance (for eg. refer to links at bottom of post). It surprises and angers me that in today's 'modern' society there are still people who make comments that compare gay marriage to incest, that state that children from gay marriages suffer from identity crises and that homosexuality can be cured. Dr David Phillips of Family Voice Australia is one such person. His comments are documented in the article by Stephen Johnson from the third link below. One comment from the same article by Bishop Julian Porteous is particularly offensive and ignorant:
"If the definition of marriage is changed, it threatens this whole understanding of our own identity, and in turn that will lead to people being less secure about who they are and that can lead to society being damaged."
Shelley Argent from Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (same article, third link below), gave a very good rebuttal to this comment:
"If they did have a gay son or a lesbian daughter and they took the time to understand the issues, they would know what nonsense they're talking about."
The fact is that they don't understand the issues, nor do they even try to. Religious groups, more specifically Catholics, tend to be even more hateful and discriminatory than other groups. Take for instance, the recent situation in Victoria (the second link below). Six Catholic Bishops decided to circulate 80,000 letters encouraging their parishioners to voice their opposition to gay marriage to their local representatives.The argument being that same sex marriage will have grave ramifications for society, there needs to be a push to protect traditional families, and that agreeing to same sex marriage will open the door to polygamy. (from story, second link below)
"Families and societies are only strengthened when couples are allowed to commit to each other through marriage," national convenor of Australian Marriage Equality Alex Greenwich said.
"So to hear Archbishop Hart discouraging any recognition of this commitment is extraordinary and heartless." (from story, second link below)
It doesn't help when supposed 'gay friendly' people make comments claiming that marriage between two people of the same sex doesn't make sense. Such as the comment posted by 'Keira whose not a hater of Sydney' in response to the Catholic Bishops article (second link below). Such comments show not only ignorance, but also discriminative views sugar-coated to appear supportive. These types of comments have the potential to cause more damage than openly hateful ones because they are under-handed.
The issue of marriage equality in Australia has progressed a long way, and discussion and political consideration has been a long time coming, but equality isn't here yet and we need to keep the pressure on the policy makers. We need our voices to be just as loud, if not louder, than those opposing marriage equality.
Anti-gay ad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wY8N2xSU3c0
http://www.news.com.au/national/catholic-church-marshalls-anti-gay-marriage-army/story-e6frfkvr-1226314176079
http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/newshome/13404005/gay-marriage-likened-to-incest-at-inquiry/
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