There has been outrage on gay blogs and facebook profiles of gay men all over Australia today after our new Prime Minister Julia Gillard said that the Government’s stance on Gay Marriage won’t be changing with her in power.
Gay papers and lobbyists are tut-tutting as if she’d condemned us all to hell. She hasn’t. Julia Gillard has said she is all for reforms to eliminate any discrimination against the LGBT community but that the definition of a marriage being between a man and a woman will stay. I would have been much more surprised if she had said that gay marriage was on her agenda. The woman is in her first week in power, through a political coup and has a very precarious election looming overhead. Why would she piss off a huge part of her voting public to appease a minority that thinks it has more clout than it does?
Don’t get me wrong, I’m disappointed and I long for the day when a Prime Minister does stand up, without risking his or her leadership and announce that gay marriage will be introduced without a ruffle of protest. But there is absolutely no chance of it happening in Australia’s current conservative climate on a shaky political platform. Julia is clinging to a leadership that she was thrust into with people waiting for her to slip up.
I think the gay community needs to be more realistic and put the angry sequinned megaphone down for a bit. We need to be patient and keep our expectations in check. I want gay marriage as much as anyone and really wish Ms Gillard had said yep, I’m all for it, but I’m not surprised she didn’t.
I do not agree with you Brenton. Always keep pressing and pushing the subject. We did it in Holland, a far more liberated country than yours, and it took us 20 years to reach our goal. So keep up the megaphoneS
Unfortunately the gay blogs / journalists that are complaining are always complaining. They are the gay members of the “There but for the grace of God go I” club. They consider themselves living martyrs selflessly trying to progress our cause.
Personally, I find them as irritating as a mosquito that buzzes your ear in the dark whilst you try to sleep.
Their constant whining is actually quite empty of substance and/or class. They are simply looking for something to complain about and say “Look at us – we are underfoot and you keep us there.”
This is little more than self imposed victim-hood that is embraced with reluctant acceptance in public – and yet in private they chew over their own complaints like mouth fulls of stale vomit – constantly regurgitating them and imagining a deeper conspiracy with each re-chewing of their cud.
In actuality, no one should be surprised by Prime Minister Gillards’ response. it is a PARTY policy – ignore her personal view. Even if she was all for Gay Marriage – it would never get the votes in caucus – and it would NEVER get the votes in the House.
However, she has restated, as most members of Labor have, the removal of ALL discriminative barriers to GLBT people under the law.
You know what – I can live without gay marriage – but I would like to have the full domestic rights that Labor are committed for.
After all………. equal under the law does not require the title of MARRIED.
Oh – and the gay activists trying to PROTECT me in this issue – please stop. You are no better than the rabid right. You abhor centrist compromise and prefer headlines to heady debate that actually produces results.
We have had quite enough of you thank you.
Madame Prime Minister – I respect your personal view – even if I do not agree with it – but I welcome your restating of your commitment to ending the legal inequity that GLBT people face.
PS Marriage is not a legal concept – but a religious one. Please go complain to your priest and leave the Government out of it.
I couldn’t agree more with Damien Oz.
I’ve been with my man for 6 years and seriously, does the right to marry excite us? Nope, not at all. It’s just documentation of a relationship with an added contract.
I believe Julia may make more noise on the matter when/if elected, but she’s playing it very very safe after pissing off the Christian lobby and supporters with her “no god” ideology.
great post brenton. ive been reading articles on this all day. i also had several friends on facebook paste statuses like DONT VOTE LABOR – JULIA GILLARD DOESNT SUPPORT GAY MARRIAGE. ignorant fools all of them, who dont understand or know anything about politics. i asked them to read up on Tony Abbotts views on homosexuality and gay marriage, which are far more conservative and unfriendly. they also forget that it was the Liberal party under John Howard, not Labor, that amended the marriage act in 2004 to ensure marriage could only be between a man and a woman. It was also the Labor party that amended legislation when it came to power to ensure equal rights for gay people in most matters, such as in superannuation and insurance.
Even though neither party supports gay marriage, i just hope people remember that when they vote, the Labor party is by far the more gay friendly party, and if we ever do get gay marriage, it will only happen with a Labor prime minister in power.
People in power can make that change. If a person of power clearly announces that there is no gay marriage and yet she will fight against discrimination, then it is just pure hypocrisy.
Marriage is not for everyone but I wish everyone would have that choice.
I do not want anyone to make that choice for me.
Marriage is a failed heterosexual institution! Does anyone really want to buy into it?
I must say that I hope things go better for you Aussie guys and gals than it has for us yanks. I am still amazed that we are so progressive in many ways in the USA and yet so “Dark ages” in other ways. I am ashamed that we aren’t better leaders for the world. I wish the best for you guys….
I’m may be a little confused, and have been away from the “home country” for a while (living in the great Stated of Texas, US), but what specific “rights” don’t Australians have under current law? I’ve been investigating this with my partner, and there are very few things that gay couples can’t do that married individuals can. Am I missing something? Just because it is not called “marriage” doesn’t mean the same legal rights aren’t there.
Family Law recognises same-sex couples in relation to property and children, most federal statutes recognize same-sex couples (with the exception of the Marriage Act), citizenship is available to my same-sex partner (an American) if we were to come to live in Australia.
Enlighten me.
Great post Brenton. Reality, however much it may suck, is reality.
not really true, james.
your partner can apply for temporary residency. After two years and your relationship still exists, then he may be granted permanent residency. In two more years, he may apply for citizenship–provided he has a clean record and he can pass the citizenship test.
Having an Australian partner does not guarantee citizenship.
Besides, there is no same-sex marriage or union or whatever in Australia. It practically does not exist.
Dexter, actually you are mistaken. The laws changed last year.
“From 1 July 2009, same-sex partners of Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents and eligible New Zealand citizens will be able to apply for the same partner visa as opposite-sex de facto partners. Same-sex de facto partners and their children will also be considered ‘members of the family unit’ for visa purposes.”
So my partner, who has documented proof that we have lived together and have a bona-fide relationship (i.e. genuine and continuing) for over a year has the right to apply for citizenship. You are referring to the old system before the same-sex reforms went through last year.