Here we are, 2011, a secular and seemingly progressive nation, and still we must fight for the right to marry. Those who do not care see it as a “gay issue”, those who do insist it is a basic human rights issue. One thing which remains blurred is the line between religion and marriage. Why is this so? We are living in a secular society in Australia, state and religion removed. This makes sense, as we are a nation made of many religions, cultures and communities, thus there would never be one god’s law which could accommodate the others. The GLBTI community extends to and includes parents, siblings, children, friends, pastors and ministers of parliament all of whom form part of the fabric of a community. There is no such thing as a “gay issue”, any more than there are “straight issues”. We all must abide by the same laws, and there are no gay laws after all.
Our present Marriage Act 1961 is a document written by the hand of a living, breathing human. The Marriage Act is a document like any other, not a commandment passed down from a god. No, it is a product of a society which felt it reflected the values and appropriate model of its era. Times have changed, as they do and always will. We have the power to put pen to paper and re-write, edit and update this document to reflect the times in which we live.
Changes have been made time again over decades which saw the need to update the model of marriage as a legally binding agreement. The marriageable age, dissolution of marriage and the allowing of civil celebrants to conduct ceremonies; the latter being updated in the Marriage Amendment Act 2002 to reflect a surge in the use of civil celebrants. All these additions and amendments have been made to reflect changing times, yet those who oppose same-sex marriage still insist that the institution of marriage as it stands needs to be protected and we do not have the right to change it. Do we not? Tell me please, that we do not live in a country whereby our laws are not able to be amended to reflect our growth, our maturity, and our changing needs? This sounds dangerous to me.
Honourable Prime Minister Julia Gillard, when this conscience vote you have oh so mercifully and passively allowed fails, tell me on whose conscience the inequality of our citizens will rest? Ms Gillard, explain to me why same-sex partners cannot have the choice to marry or to remain de facto as you yourself have been able to choose? Explain to me now, why it is that our government so enthusiastically taxes us equally, yet cannot celebrate us quite so passionately? More importantly, why Prime Minister, is an educated, agnostic leader as yourself still pandering to those who believe that our laws, bills and policies are the work of a Christian God, not your own predecessors?
I would like to think the Marriage Act is like a patchwork quilt which over time will be added to; as it grows we will look back over it, reading its story and weaving our new threads into it. It will change as each generation has its say on which direction it will take. Let no one own love more than another.
December 4th 2011
