Australian Marriage Equality

Hobart marriage equality vigil: State of the union debate

John — Thu, 17 May 2012 19:04:34 +0000

ADVOCATES for same-sex and traditional marriage made their contrasting voices heard at the University of Tasmania last night, as the state’s debate over the right to marry heated up.

The FamilyVoice Australia Excellent Marriage seminar hosted hundreds at the Stanley Burbury Theatre, while outside the venue an equally vocal group of more than 200 advocates rallied in support of same-sex marriage.

Dunlop: Marriage equality is inevitable – just look at its critics

John — Thu, 17 May 2012 16:35:28 +0000

We all need to thank Joe Hockey.

His performance on the most recent episode of Q&A on ABC TV has demonstrated the moral and logical blackhole pulsing in the centre of “arguments” against gay marriage.

With one simple, graceless and insulting attack on gay parents, Mr Hockey exposed the bankruptcy of all those, including the Prime Minister, who continue to conspire with prejudice and small-mindedness to deny their fellow citizens equal treatment before the law.

Marriage Equality: Louise O’Shea vs Jim Wallace

John — Thu, 17 May 2012 16:32:48 +0000

This week, a special head to head issue. Two sides. Two very different perspectives. Favouring legalisation, Louise O’Shea from Equal Love Australia. Against, Jim Wallace from the Australian Christian Lobby. But first a little context.

Worldwide, same-sex marriage is legally recognized in ten countries. In Australia, an amendment to the Federal Marriage Act in 2004 explicitly defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman only.

DJs backs same-sex marriage

rodney — Thu, 17 May 2012 01:20:30 +0000

The chief executive of retailing giant David Jones, Paul Zahra, has urged federal MPs to back legal changes that would recognise same-sex unions.

“I think the current ban on same-sex marriage is sending a message that it’s OK to treat gay people differently,” Mr Zahra told The Australian Financial Review. “We value all of our staff and customers and treat them all equally and we’d like to see the federal government do the same thing and change the legislation,” he said.

So far, few business leaders have publicly weighed in on the controversy over same-sex marriage that will come to a head with a vote in Parliament later this year.

Obama says civil unions “not sufficient” / Australian MPs urged to embrace full equality

John — Wed, 16 May 2012 04:51:04 +0000

Marriage equality advocates have praised US President Barack Obama for taking his support for marriage equality further by telling the US daytime television show, The View (broadcast in Australia today), that civil unions are “not sufficient” (Report here). In response, advocates have called on federal politicians in Australia to accept nothing less than full marriage equality.

President Obama told The View that he had long-supported civil unions but has since changed his mind. On Wednesday last week President Obama declared his personal support for marriage equality, and he told a fundraiser in New York on Monday that the reform would “strengthen families”. (Report here)

Rodney Croome, campaign director of Australian Marriage Equality, said:

“By listening to the everyday experiences of gay and lesbian people, Barack Obama has come to understand that civil unions are not full equality.”

“By formally ascribing a second-class status to same-sex relationships, an Australian national civil union scheme would entrench discrimination rather than eliminate it.”

“The President’s comments send a strong message to Australian federal politicians that the debate before them is about marriage equality and nothing less. We call on all federal MPs and senators to rule out civil unions as a substitute for marriage equality.”

The most recent opinion poll shows that 62% of Australians support marriage equality. (Report here)

For more information contact Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668.

Battisti: Doctors should stick with majority

John — Wed, 16 May 2012 04:00:40 +0000

The recently-publicised senate submission by the newly-formed ‘Doctors for the Family’ group risks undermining the mental health of thousands of Australians. Doctors are highly respected within the community and are able to influence public opinion. It is of great concern that this group of doctors may do so, despite them not representing the views of the Australian Medical Association (AMA) and its nearly 90,000 members.

Within their submission the group makes multiple claims that are based either on opinion or evidence that is irrelevant to the points they address.

For example, the group states that children with a mother and a father do better than those without. This is true in comparison to single parents (on average and by no means in all cases). Actual comparisons between children of same-sex coupled parents and children of heterosexual coupled parents shows no difference in their physical or mental health.

Dr Robert Battisti is a Sydney-based clinical psychologist and cognitive neuroscientist. He is extensively experienced in family, child and adolescent mental health and psychiatry, and works closely with a broad range of health professionals and academics from the general and scientific communities. Dr Battisti is also a member of Psychologists for Marriage Equality (PME).

Kennett praised for adding humanity to marriage debate / Pressure on Abbott increases

John — Tue, 15 May 2012 23:13:08 +0000

Jeff Kennett applauded for injecting humanity into marriage equality debate / Pressure increases on Abbott to allow conscience vote

Marriage equality advocates have praised former Victorian Liberal Premier, Jeff Kennett, for showing the issue is about people not politics, and have renewed their call for a Coalition conscience vote on the issue.

In an article in today’s Herald Sun, Mr Kennett says the experiences of everyday people have convinced him to embrace marriage equality (report here)

Rodney Croome, campaign director of Australian Marriage Equality, said,

“Mr Kennett’s heartfelt plea to Australians to support marriage equality is a reminder this issue is not about about ‘left vs. right’ or ‘gay vs. straight’, but about what we all share as human beings.”

“Mr Kennett supports marriage equality for reasons that will resonate with many of his Coalition colleagues, so we renew our call on Tony Abbott to allow a conscience vote on the issue.”

Mr Kennett – who is the founding chairman of national depression initiative, beyondblue – said that the impact of marriage discrimination on the mental health of gay and lesbian Australians was a key factor in his change of heart.

“Social science research shows excluding same-sex couples from marriage has a significant impact on the mental health of same-sex attracted people, particularly young people, and Mr Kennett is right to bring this to public attention“, Mr Croome said.

Only a short time ago, Mr Kennett argued that same-sex couples should not be allowed to marry because, he claimed, it would have negative consequences for children.

“If Mr Kennett can have such a rapid personal transformation in attitudes towards marriage equality by listening to the everyday experiences of gay and lesbian Australians, we are still hopeful Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott can have a similar change of heart.”

A Galaxy poll last year found that 76% of Coalition voters want Tony Abbott to grant his party a conscience vote on same-sex marriage. (link here)

For more information contact Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668.

Kennett: Australians must embrace gay marriage

John — Tue, 15 May 2012 22:01:29 +0000

TODAY, I call on the Catholic Church and the community to review its position on marriage.

It is time our laws respected the rights of all law abiding individuals.

Those laws should reflect contemporary educated attitudes, not just for marriage but to women and their role in society.

Marsden: Want to know about gay parenting? Ask the children

John — Tue, 15 May 2012 06:28:38 +0000

“To the Doctors for the Family,

We – Maeve Marsden, Maya Newell, Rowan Savage, Raj and Jesse Wakeling – are a group of adults aged in our 20s and 30s, raised in same-sex parenting environments.

We would like to address the concerns you’ve highlighted in your submission to the Senate inquiry into the Marriage Equality Amendment Bill 2010, and discuss their broader implications. We would also like to give you the opportunity to meet us, and our families, to help broaden your understanding of this complex and topical issue.

We note that the Australian Medical Association, a 900,000-member strong association of medical professionals, has already dismissed your submission as going against the general consensus of doctors and the majority of research.

Maya Newell, Raj Wakeling, Jesse Wakeling, Maeve Marsden and Rowan Savage are a group of adults now aged in their 20s and 30s who were raised in same-sex parenting environments.

Obama: Extending marriage to gay couples will ‘strengthen families’

John — Tue, 15 May 2012 05:28:42 +0000

President Barack Obama has continued to speak out in favour of equal marriage while attending a celebrity laden fund-raiser in New York.

After being introduced by openly gay star Ricky Martin, President Obama said: that all people are “equal in terms of dignity and in terms of respect.”

Obama added: “I want everyone treated fairly in this country. We have never gone wrong when we’ve extended rights and responsibilities to everybody. That doesn’t weaken families; that strengthens families.”