|
The Hon Trish Worth MP
PO Box 373 RUNDLE MALL SA 5000 Dear Ms Worth
I am writing to you as a disgruntled member of your electorate, in regards to some statements made by both John Howard and Peter Costello when asked to comment on the rights for same-sex marriage.
I quote John Howard from the Australian newspaper The Age: "I'm opposed to changing the law in Australia to give them the same status as marriage that we all understand in our society." He continues. “It's very much about the raising of children ... and the continuation of our species.”
Unfortunately I am quite disappointed with our Prime Minister’s comments, and believe them to be grossly flawed. If marriage is “very much” about the raising of children and procreation, then surely the validity of childless marriages, infertile couples and even the marriage of my own brother who has recently had a vasectomy, comes into question.
Peter Costello meanwhile, chooses to hide his personal opinions behind the law. “Marriage is a partnership between a man and a woman, that's the definition we've got in legislation.”
As a gay man living in Australia and in your electorate, I state here that I do wish one day to be granted the right to marry my partner of choice, the same right afforded the majority of Australians. I also state here that I fully intend to raise a child within the bounds of that loving relationship. Seemingly, in Mr Howard’s eyes, that would make my marriage valid? I’m not that hopeful.
I merely wish the same rights afforded to defacto couples here within Australia. The rights of next-of-kin in hospitals, tax situations, succession, to name but a few issues. I find it highly discriminatory that the Federal Government automatically bestows the title of “defacto” to a relationship between a man and a woman at the six month point, whereas same-sex couples have been fighting for that right for years. I do not wish to get married in the religious sense. I merely want the right to a civil union that affords me the same rights as the majority of Australians.
I find it rather interesting to note the Immigration Department’s view on same-sex couples. They have an “Interdependant Partner Migration” scheme, which grants spousal rights to enter and reside in Australia. We simply must be able to prove:
The existence of this scheme, whilst filling me with hope that there are some sensible people in the government making decisions regarding minorities, it confuses me that it should be so discordant with the comments of our prime minister. Does the Federal Government accept same-sex relationships, or doesn’t it? If we are being recognised as having a legitimate legal relationship by the Immigration Department, why cannot this recognition extend through the rest of our federal legislature?
In summary, I’m quite disappointed with the current rights of same-sex couples within Australia, and despair at how Australia must appear to the rest of the world, especially those European countries who have already equalised the rights of their citizens.
As my representative in the Federal Parliament, I would ask the following of you:
Can you please comment on your own opinions of same-sex unions within Australia. Do you support them?
Can you please comment on the Liberal Party’s official stance on same-sex unions within Australia. Do you even have one? Will you be supporting a “ban on same-sex marriage” if John Howard presents one later this year? This is my first letter to a member of parliament. I’m really not sure of how this works. I’m just a disgruntled member of a minority. I would dearly love this issue to be brought up in parliament and debated. I think Australia needs to look at the European Human Rights Commission initiative, and move forward to be a nation more accepting and protective of it’s minorities. I understand, sometimes it’s hard for you to fight for something that you might not personally believe in, or even understand. I’m not sub-human, I love my partner as much as my parents love each other. As much as the majority of marriages do, perhaps even more. I’m only fighting for equality, Ms Worth. The same rights that you have, that you probably take for granted.
I’ll quote a wise woman: “It has been in my family that I have learned and affirmed my core values: to honour creativity and enterprise, to respect all people and to work for justice.” That was you, if you don’t remember, in your first speech. I hope that you can look at this issue and see that justice is not currently being served. That if Mr Howard even suggests a ban on gay marriage then he is doing us all an injustice. If the current administration cannot see beyond the word “marriage” and it’s religious implications, I would hope that you, in your work for justice, can work for us in bringing about a civil union for all who desire it.
Your grandmothers didn’t have the right to vote. We look back at that era and wonder how we were ever so close-minded. I’m sure the majority of women at the time could not believe the injustice they felt, or how powerless they felt against the government of the day. You’ve fought hard in bringing about equality for your minority. Please help me in fighting for mine.
Yours sincerely,
Marcus Roberts |