LORDS SUPPORT FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY

LORDS SUPPORT FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY INCREASES PRESSURE ON AUSSIE MPS

AUSTRALIA NOW ALONE AMONG DEVELOPED, ENGLISH-SPEAKING NATIONS

According to Australian marriage equality advocates, House of Lords support for marriage equality leaves Australian politicians with no excuses for not supporting the reform

Overnight, the House of Lords voted in favour of UK government legislation allowing same-sex couples to marry, with such marriages expected to begin in mid 2014.

Australian Marriage Equality national direcotr, Rodney Croome, said,

“If such a traditional and conservative chamber as the House of Lords can support marriage equality than Australia’s politicians have no excuses for not supporting it too.”

“Australia is now alone among developed, English-speaking countries in not allowing same-sex couples to marry.”

Same-sex marriages are allowed in the UK, New Zealand, Canada, thirteen US states and thirteen other countries.

Mr Croome said he expects many Austrlaians will marry in the UK given close links between the two countries.

“As if it’s not bad enough that Australian couples are forced to marry under the laws of another country, once they return to Australia their solemn vows of lifelong commitment count for nothing.”

At the weekend, a national Galaxy poll found 11% of Coalition voters are more likely to vote Labor because of Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd’s, support for marriage equality, while 58% of voters believe Coalition leader, Tony Abbott’s, opposition to marriage equality is out of step with community attitudes.

A whopping 54% of young voters are more likely to vote Labor because of Mr Rudd’s stance.

Mr Croome renewed calls on Mr Abbott to allow a Coalition conscience vote so the issue can be resolved as quickly as possible.

For a summary of the Galaxy poll, go to: http://ymlp201.net/zJ37KS
For copy of the for report, click here: http://www.australianmarriageequality.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/120701-REPORT-SSM-Vote-July-2013.pdf

Three quotes from the House of Lords debate are included below.

“I cannot claim to be a gay rights campaigner, but I do believe in justice and fairness.”
– one of the peers responsible for the marriage equality bill, Baroness Stowell

“I have come to the firm conclusion that there is nothing to fear in gay marriage and indeed that it will be a positive good, not just for same-gender unions but for the institution of marriage generally. My own sons have said that they are proud of me, their father, and indeed their grandfather, for supporting the Bill, and would have been ashamed had we voted against it. We need to recognise that for conservatism to work, we have to accept that the world changes.”
– Conservative peer, Baroness Anne Jenkin of Kennington

“I’ve honestly never felt so privileged in my life. It’s amazing to be able to get up and vote for people to have equal rights. I still can’t believe, in 2013, we really have to do that, but we do – and I’m there and, for once, the House of Lords was on it, they were all over it. I’m just absolutely thrilled.”
– Baroness King
Australian Marriage Equality national convener, Rodney Croome