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Couples are not couples unless they can marry

By Rodney Croome - posted Wednesday, 15 April 2009


Then four days later, as if to make the point that change is accelerating, the Vermont legislature overrode a gubernatorial veto on same-sex marriages to bring the US total to four.

Oddly enough, the US state which has probably done more to increase support for same-sex marriage globally is the place where such marriages are no longer allowed, California.

The same-sex marriages of popular celebrities like Ellen DeGeneres and George Takei have gone a long way to defang the fear-mongering of anti-equality advocates.

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Closer to home, a number of celebrities, public figures and important public institutions have also moved the debate along.

Matthew Mitcham has spoken out in favour of his right to marry, as has former High Court judge, Michael Kirby.

Major corporations like Westpac, Telstra and Qantas, as well as several unions and municipal governments, now recognise the same-sex marriages of their employees, members and/or customers.

Significantly, prominent Labor figures are breaking ranks and also endorsing equality, including Victorian Education Minister, Bronwyn Pike, and WA Senator, Louise Pratt.

This change is both lead by, and leading, changes in broad public opinion.

In 2004 Newspoll found only 38 per cent support for same-sex marriage in Australia. According to Galaxy, that had jumped to 57 per cent in 2007. Even in the state which the Australia Institute has claimed is Australia’s most homophobic, Queensland, Galaxy last year found support for same-sex marriage runs at 54 per cent.

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Most important of all, faith communities, at whom Labor’s gay marriage policy was aimed, are shifting ground.

A 2007 poll of faith-minded Americans aged 18-35 found 80 per cent felt Christian leaders are wrongly contemptuous of gays and lesbians. A poll of the same demographic, released last month, found 55 per cent supported same-sex marriage or civil unions. It’s reasonable to assume that such figures would be even higher in Australia.

So how will the ALP respond to these immense changes when its delegates meet in June?

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About the Author

Rodney Croome is a spokesperson for Equality Tasmania and national advocacy group, just.equal. He who was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2003 for his LGBTI advocacy.

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Creative Commons LicenseThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

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