A month ago the marriage equality plebiscite was on the “National front page” but day by day as issue fatigue takes hold it slips to the back of the daily paper with the garage sales and obituaries.
Former Australian of the year Patrick McGorry is the latest in a long line of eminent people who have declared the plebiscite injurious to mental health, an affront to human rights and “all but dead” yet conservative politicians continue to prop up the body and the church refuses to bury it.
The media has laid it out, the Australian public waits in the pew, and yet daily the Christian lobby helps the government dress the corpse in cheery colours of freedom, puts on a bit of slap and refuses to give it the last rites.
Like Mary Shelley’s monster, the plebiscite is destined to unleash a series of tragedies but the creators may yet live to regret their hardness of heart or lack of courage.
McGorry, assisted by other mental and public health professionals might be the one to help the church come to terms with the uncomfortable reality of its history and present motivations. Teary eyed church and conservative politicians gather around the plebiscite bedside like family members hardly daring to mention what is plainly evident to experts and passersby.
The plebiscite and it’s mandate are like the ghastly guests of honour at the political banquet with the church as the caterer ,many of us are losing our appetite having worked our way laboriously through the menu and it is unlikely to return.
Despite all the canapés of commination, deep fried parables and poisoned chalices the Marriage Equality “party” hosted by conservative politicians and Christian institutions is already tasting like a wake.
It could also be final nail in the coffin for those gothic agendas that have led to division, exclusion and discrimination and it’s passing will be greeted with sigh of relief, rather than wailing and gnashing of teeth.
• John Hayward in Comments: Aficianados of political burlesque will no doubt be disappointed to miss the spectacle of the Liberals going the full monty in trying to sink the plebiscite without exposing their ideological jewels.
