Page 2907 - Week 08 - Thursday, 17 August 2017
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
To my mind, this is an added bonus. We live in a society that perpetuates an idea of masculinity that promotes vigour and toughness. It is an idea that is determined through society and culture rather than just biology. If our society and culture changes to the point of blurring gender distinctions because of equal marriage, that in general will probably be a good thing. It will mean it will be far more acceptable for men to participate in the more traditional feminine roles of parenting, housework and other non-paid labour. Ultimately we might even see that men’s violence towards women is reduced.
We can but hope that with the advent of equal marriage the institution and idea of marriage itself will become more apt for the modern day. Marriage is a bond between two people that involves responsibility and legalities as well as commitment and challenge. The concept of marriage will not change if we allow same-sex couples to marry. As a person who has recently married, I have to admit that in the past I had a somewhat cynical view of marriage, informed also by views of patriarchy et cetera, which I will not talk about here. But I have changed my views. It took my partner’s ill health for me to realise that I was ready to be married, and it was a way of reassuring him that I would stand by him in both sickness and health.
To those of you who may be opposed to equal marriage, I say to you: don’t you think that is the sort of thing that any couple might wish to do—to have the reassurance and certainty that the person you love will stick with you no matter what? And how different is it if your partner happens to be of the same sex? The love is the same, the commitment is the same, and we should not be denying same-sex couples the right to publically make the same declaration as heterosexual couples can.
I am pleased that this motion includes supporting the LGBTIQ community during the period of the postal survey, should it not be prohibited by the High Court. The next two months will be the most trying and difficult for those whose right to marry is being debated by the community. There are already disproportionate levels of mental health issues amongst LGBTIQ people, not because they are LGBTIQ but because of the lack of acceptance and level of discrimination they face.
The next two months has the potential to make the situation even worse for many of them. We must support them and we must ensure that they know they are living in a community that supports them, accepts them and embraces them as part of our community. The ACT government’s resolution to provide additional supports at this time is simply a continuation of our long-term agenda. We passed equal marriage legislation before, we pledged support in the event of a plebiscite before, and we must do the same thing again in the event that the non-binding postal survey should proceed.
I fear the greatest exposure to any argument will occur because that side is well funded and organised, not because their argument is necessarily right. That is all the more reason for the ACT government to actively participate in the campaign to support marriage equality. This is a question of human rights. Moral and religious beliefs should not override human rights. Whilst I agree that we live in a society where there should be free speech, we are also in a secular society where the law
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video