Gays Can’t Mimic Marriage
In an astounding display of hypocrisy, the Rudd government says that is supports the legal recognition of same-sex couples, but not if they dare to hold a ceremony that “mimics marriage”. The Rudd government says that it will not prevent any state or territory from setting up a registry for gay couples, but if those states want to legalise civil unions, then the Rudd government will put a stop to it. What this means is that it is okay for a gay couple to fill out a bunch of paperwork that will make their relationship legally recognised, but if they dare get up in front of their family and friends with a celebrant to publicly announce their love, then it is not legal.
You can not have it both ways Rudd. Either it is okay for gay couples to be legally recognised or it is not. What does the act of announcing your love in a public ceremony have to do with it? This is simply pandering to the Christian Right and other homophobic interest groups as the Rudd government does not want to be seen to be actively promote gay unions. I guess they think if the whole thing is done privately through the exchange of paperwork then perhaps the Christian Right won’t notice it.
Now I have no issues with religious organisations not wishing to marry gay couples. It is their religion, they can do what they like. But the fact that gays can not stand up in front of their family and friends with a non-religious celebrant and announce their love in a ceremony that is legally recognised is just a joke, especially if/when they can fill out paperwork that will make their unions legal.
I was really hopeful that the Rudd government would have a less narrow minded view of gay rights. Yes, they are removing some financial barriers, but to disallow states to make civil unions legal is just another kick in the teeth for the gay community.
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May 8th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
Hope to see more countries allow gay marriage … I’m glad to live in Canada where queer people have their choice. Good luck down under!
May 8th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Ah. So his colours are now out, as it were.
Fun fact from what’s now the UK: 4 September 1707 shows Hannah Wright and Anne Gaskill of the Parish of Prestbury recorded in the Cheshire marriage register. There’s another in the same register and from the same parish for Ann Norton and Alice Pickford for 3 June 1708. That’s church records.
I don’t believe the British empire collapsed at that point in history from the wrath of the god these modern so-called Christians are so concerned about.
May 8th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
Wow. And here I thought all the lunatics where over here in the US. It’s pretty sad to see they’re everywhere.
Ha! But so are we!
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May 9th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
Oragne: Thanks for your support. I wish Australia would see that society has not fallen apart in Canada just because they allow gay unions.
Nyssa: I knew the church used to recognised same-sex marriages back in the 14th century but didn’t realise it continued on until the 18th century.
Kelly: Alas, we have our lunatics over here too.
May 10th, 2008 at 11:28 am
I never thought Rudd would allow it, he likes to have his cake and eat it too much.
Hopefully there will be enough of a vocal majority to get some sense through his, and his ministers, thick heads in the near future.
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May 10th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
You are right, this is just Rudd pandering to the bible thumpers. Crazy decision … makes an issue out of something that ought not be. Everyone should just accept that yes there are gay people, yes they have the same rights as straight people and that should include civil unions, marriage whatever you want to call it.
Can’t really see the political value in opposing gay marriage anyway. Agree to it, weather the inevitable storm from the bible thumpers and get on with business. The religious conservatives are going to be outraged anyway, by the very existence of gays, the marriage issue just gves them something to pin their homophobia on.