*sigh* for Australia

[alli_cat]

Sadly, this is the direction that the delightful folk that govern my country think we want to be heading...


http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200408/s1168531.htm

Govt to fast-track same-sex marriage ban

Prime Minister John Howard has stepped up his push to get the Government's ban on same-sex marriages through Parliament, saying he wants the Senate to pass the changes before the federal election.

Labor has publicly supported the ban but the legislation has been referred to a Senate committee because it also includes a ban on overseas adoptions by same sex couples.

Mr Howard has told a national marriage forum in Canberra that the Government will split the two issues to allow Labor to support the same-sex marriage ban in the current sitting of Parliament.

Mr Howard has hinted it will be the last opportunity to pass it before he calls an election.

"It would be a great pity if this issue were left hanging in an election campaign," he said.

"If people who criticise me say, 'oh well, it's just a political diversion', I would say to them ... remove the diversion by putting the law through before the election starts."

Shadow Attorney-General Nicola Roxon told the forum that Labor would pass the same-sex marriage ban in the current sitting of Parliament.

"Labor's position about gay marriage is clear and unequivocal and from the Prime Minister's statements today it sounds like the major parties will be voting for this Bill some time in the next fortnight," she said.

"I'm sure that you will all welcome that."

But Australia's peak gay and lesbian rights lobby group says Labor will suffer at the ballot box for its decision to fast-track the ban.

Equal Rights Network spokesman Rodney Croome says Labor has broken a promise to allow the committee to investigate the gay marriage ban as well as the adoptions issue.

"There's only one consequence of this decision electorally - Labor will lose votes," he said.

"The people who may have voted Labor who now won't are gay and lesbian people in inner-city Melbourne and Sydney.

"They'll be much more likely now to vote Democrat or Green and Labor will lose their primary votes."

 

[alli_cat]

This is an older article about the issue, it's interesting though as it showcases more of the delightful Mr Howard's openminded views...


[http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2004/s1118121.htm]
The World Today - Howard defends anti-gay marriage legislation

The World Today - Friday, 28 May , 2004 12:14:00
Reporter: Alison Caldwell
TANYA NOLAN: Now to the issue of gay marriage, and the Democrats are calling for a Senate Inquiry to examine proposed new laws, to ban gay couples entering holy matrimony, making it the exclusive domain of heterosexuals.

The Prime Minister unveiled the legislation yesterday, despite opposition voiced inside the Coalition partyroom, by several MP's.

Adelaide MP Trish Worth reportedly told colleagues that she may now lose her seat over the issue.

Her concerns were reportedly echoed by other government MP's including Petro Georgiou, Judi Moylan and Peter King.

Labor meanwhile announced it would not oppose the bill leading to claims that the Government has failed in it's bid to use the issue as an election wedge.

The Prime Minister this morning hit the airwaves in an attempt to try and quell voter concerns.

Alison Caldwell reports

ALISON CALDWELL: With gay advocates accusing the Prime Minister of homophobic electioneering, John Howard hit the airwaves this morning to justify his Government's position on gay marriage.

JOHN HOWARD: Obviously marriage has a special status, and one of the reasons it has a special status is that it is a union between a man and a woman hopefully, but of course not always, for life. And I believe that if you allow unions between men and men or women and women to be given the same status, it will over time erode the value and therefore erode the special character and therefore the contribution to society of marriage.

ALISON CALDWELL: Speaking on Melbourne's 3AW, John Howard was asked if he was surprised by Labor's support.

JOH HOWARD: I think they're just being entirely political. I just think they're into the business of not disagreeing on things that they don’t want to have an argument about.

ALISON CALDWELL: With Labor supporting the legislation the ban gay marriage, the Prime Minister is having to deal with the fears of a number of coalition MPs in marginal seats, concerned the issue could damage their chances of holding their seats at the next election.

MPs, including Trish Worth, Petro Georgiou, Peter King, Judi Moylan and Warren Entsch, all reportedly voiced concerns in the party room during yesterday's meeting.

The World Today contacted each of the MPs, but no one would comment.

The Prime Minister isn't worried, he says they're in the minority.

JOHN HOWARD: Some people don’t agree with it, but the overwhelming majority agree with it very strongly.

ALISON CALDWELL: But callers to the station disagreed.

CALLER: It’s not a choice that’s innate and begs the question why the Prime Minister wants to create a second class citizenry for gay and lesbian people just for them being who they are.

JOHN HOWARD: Well I’m not.

CALLER: You are.

JOHN HOWARD: Well, we have to agree to disagree on that Sir. That is not the case and I don’t think most reasonable people would agree with you.

ALISON CALDWELL: A nervous first time caller Elliott said the decision to ban gay marriage had shaken his support for the coalition.

ELLIOTT: I couldn’t imagine voting for anybody else. I support the Prime Minister on Iraq, I supported him on his economic principals. I’m a chartered accountant by profession, we pay lots of taxes, we are in small business and I’d like to ask the Prime Minister how does he expect me to vote for him, when he so clearly discriminates myself and my partner. We are not all the typical people you see on television. We are the conservative libertarians who sit at home and watch you and appreciate the work that you’ve done, and you have offended us.

JOHN HOWARD: Well I’m not setting out to. I realise in public life what you do sometimes offends some people. It’s not designed to do that, but I equally don’t apologise for wanting to put in the law the simple proposition that a marriage is a union between a man and a woman, hopefully for life.

ALISON CALDWELL: Among those supporting the Government's legislation was the Tasmanian Senator Guy Barnett. In fact, he's delighted.

GUY BARNETT: Marriage is a bedrock institution. It’s been round for thousands of years, across cultures, across religions and it’s a rock solid institution. It’s not a fashion that needs to be updated.

ALISON CALDWELL: But what about some of your fellow coalition MPs who are saying that they’ll lose their seats, as a result?

GUY BARNETT: Look, there’s been all sorts of discussion. I think the main issue is whether Labor will definitely support it or not. That’s the only question I have about the legislation. I hope they do support it a hundred per cent, and I do think it will protect marriage, which is excellent. In terms of some people thinking it may have an impact in certain areas, well it may have an impact in some areas, but they will see that the overwhelming majority support the legislation and …

ALISON CALDWELL: And they may just have to lose their seats as a result?

GUY BARNETT: No they won’t be losing their seats. I think this will help them in terms of winning their seats, because the vast majority of Australians support marriage is between a man and a woman.

TANYA NOLAN: Tasmanian Senator Guy Barnett.

 

[mr happy]

Hi alli_cat,

Nice to see another Aussie in here.

Dont know what all the fuss is about, I'm straight, but dont care who marries who.
Do these small minded govt people not understand that there is more than one type of loving relationship.

Think they are scared of the can of worms it opens in regard to adoption and ivf treatments.

Vic country boy here,

Gidday to ya

 

[mr happy]

P.S.

Nice Boots.

mmmmmm

 

[Dream Keeper]

Same sex marriage should have been legalized world-wide years ago. It is only now really becoming an issue. The people can't ignore it forever, and the homophobes can't hide in their houses forever. Everyone just needs to get over it and allow the marriages. If it is not legal soon, I will start a Gay Militia! We will rebel against the governments until they meet our demands!!! http://graphics.gaiaonline.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_twisted.gif Mwahaha! Hehe, joking.

 

[alli_cat]

Hi alli_cat,

Nice to see another Aussie in here.

Dont know what all the fuss is about, I'm straight, but dont care who marries who.
Do these small minded govt people not understand that there is more than one type of loving relationship.

Think they are scared of the can of worms it opens in regard to adoption and ivf treatments.

Vic country boy here,

Gidday to ya

Hi mr happy

It doesn't personally affect me either, already being married, but the principal certainly bothers me. One of the articles talks about 'holy matrimony', and I understand why churches would not be willing to perform a wedding ceremony for gay couples. But what Johnny is talking about is preventing any future possibility of even civil unions. And Labour supports him! What sort of backwards country do we live in?!

And preventing even overseas adoptions by gay couples? *sigh* There are so many suffering children in other countries that could have a loving family, and our government wants to take that away (because they're not 'real' families?!). *sighs again*

Just as an amusing aside, another article I read was stating quite adamantly that Mr Howard was *not* doing this to suck up to George Bush (who coincidently is trying to push the same legislation through in the US )... one has to wonder...


Glad you like the boots I'm a bootaholic

 

[alli_cat]

Same sex marriage should have been legalized world-wide years ago. It is only now really becoming an issue. The people can't ignore it forever, and the homophobes can't hide in their houses forever. Everyone just needs to get over it and allow the marriages. If it is not legal soon, I will start a Gay Militia! We will rebel against the governments until they meet our demands!!! http://graphics.gaiaonline.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_twisted.gif Mwahaha! Hehe, joking.

So long as you don't mind us married bi people joining your Militia

I do agree though, the whole thing is beyond a joke. I was a single parent for three years before I fell in love with someone, who happened to be a male, and got married. Now if I had fallen in love with a woman first, my government tells me I wouldn't have had a 'proper' family, no right to marry her and commit myself to our family unit for the rest of my life? It's just so illogical

 

[Dalim]

Here are copies of e-mails I sent to both my local member and to the leader of the opposition here in Australia. My advise to all Australians is send e-mails to your members of paraliment and SHAME THEM.

Mark;

Shame shame shame.

I have one question to ask you, what right does government have in dictating how people live their lives and who they choose to affirm their love with?

I understand the reasoning around the church idea of marriage where homosexuality is unacceptable, yet civil union, the kind I share with my wife, is to be denied to a whole section of the Australian community. It is bad enough that Gay couple have no rights to super, or similar rights shared by the rest of society in terms of de-facto relationships. Now we have also told them they cannot legally join together to affirm their love and devotion to each other.

As for the pouting of our Prime Minister who feels that 'gay marriage' will result in loss of "the value and therefore erode the special character and therefore the contribution to society of marriage." Look in streets like mine, single mum's, abusive families, siblings with different fathers. Where is this fabled marriage? Is John Howard that? Is your marriage? You and John are just like everybody else, like my wife and I, we struggle and strive to besome a better couple. Why should people who are willing to enter an agreement to love and support each other be unable to have the same rights as 'straight' people?

Are there any answers you can give me?


Joanna (Gash); member for Gilmore (South Coast NSW)

I realise that my message here will not be reaching sympathetic ears, I still feel that I need to tell you as my representative in the parliament what I feel.

Gay marriage is not something that governement should ban nor is it something that government should have a say in. It is simply a personal matter that individuals should be able to decide for themselves. What kind of a system of government do we have that legislates against people afirming love and affection towards each other?

I am married to a beautiful lady, yet if I had felt the urge at some point in my life to be comitted to a man how dare the government of the day tell me that I can not marry the man (person) I love and care for.

Joanna, please don't support this legislation, look for alternatives but don't abandon individual's rights. If some people are offended by the term 'marriage' being applied to 'gay marriage' lets find a different term, a different definition, afirming vows etc.

 

[Dalim]

Hi mr happy

It doesn't personally affect me either, already being married, but the principal certainly bothers me. One of the articles talks about 'holy matrimony', and I understand why churches would not be willing to perform a wedding ceremony for gay couples. But what Johnny is talking about is preventing any future possibility of even civil unions. And Labour supports him! What sort of backwards country do we live in?!

And preventing even overseas adoptions by gay couples? *sigh* There are so many suffering children in other countries that could have a loving family, and our government wants to take that away (because they're not 'real' families?!). *sighs again*

Just as an amusing aside, another article I read was stating quite adamantly that Mr Howard was *not* doing this to suck up to George Bush (who coincidently is trying to push the same legislation through in the US )... one has to wonder...


Glad you like the boots I'm a bootaholic

And as an aside to that honey guess where Mr Howards son is... in the US, and what is he doing???

Volunteering his time to help with George W's election campaign... it was on Triple J the other day. They rang up George W's election office and asked if any Australian's were there and if (I can' tremember his first name) [insert name] Howard was there and yes he is working for them!!!

Is Johnny training him up to be another arse licking Howard!!

Maybe...