Last week, the government of the Australian Capital Territory introduced legislation to recognise both same- and different-sex civil unions. As with the New Zealand legislation, this will be "marriage in all but name", with existing laws being tweaked to ensure that such unions are treated exactly the same as marriage. Unfortunately, the federal government views this as "undermining marriage", and is now promising to block the legislation. The message this sends is crystal clear: that there is no place for gays in Howard's Australia, and that they will never be treated equally. For a country which prides itself as being a modern democracy, that is simply an appalling message to send.
Idiot's right, there is no place for gays in Howard's Australia. But Craig is mostly right too. There is no place for gays in Beazley's Australia either. It seems only State governments have any sense of justice, trying to introduce civil unions. I think that some of them (primarily the ACT) would actually go for marriage if the Federal government weren't so strongly opposed and if the federal labour party weren't so gutless.
ReplyDeleteCraig: Oh, I agree - full equality is better than this half measure. But that's currently banned by federal law defining marriage as being between one man and one woman (a law the ALP supported, for which they deserve everyone's undying contempt) - and in that context, half measures are all the ACT government can do and in any case are better than nothing. But better half measures than nothing at all...
ReplyDeleteAnd I agree with namesake for once about Beaxley. None of which excuses Howard's latest homophobic foray into public policy.
ReplyDeleteAt the present moment, I intend to buy New Zealand Made from now on, and urge all supportive LGBT New Zealanders and our straight allies to do likewise. If Australia wants to pursue homopbobic social policies, then let's show them there's a price tag attached to discrimination against our communities.
Craig Y.