[Green-Activist] {Disarmed} Canberra Times 26 Dec 07

Fri Dec 28 14:38:27 EST 2007

"All the property that is necessary to a Man, for the Conservation of the
Individual and the Propagation of the Species, is his natural Right, which
none can justly deprive him of: But all Property superfluous to such
purposes is the Property of the Publick, who, by their Laws, have created
it, and who may therefore by other laws dispose of it, whenever the Welfare
of the Publick shall demand such Disposition. He that does not like civil
Society on these Terms, let him retire and live among Savages. He can have
no right to the benefits of Society, who will not pay his Club towards the
Support of it." -- Benjamin Franklin - (1706-1790) US founding Father
Source: letter to Robert Morris, 25 December 1783, Ref: Franklin Collected
Works, Lemay, ed., 1082 

  _____  

From: gale-wa at yahoogroups.com [mailto:gale-wa at yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of
Brian Greig
Sent: Thursday, 27 December 2007 8:04 PM
To: gale-wa at yahoogroups.com
Subject: [gale-wa] Canberra Times 26 Dec 07

The following opinion piece was published in the Canberra Times on Boxing
Day, 2007.

= = = 

Stanhope Must Stand Firm on ACT Push For Same-sex Unions

What is so objectionable to a gay couple reciting some dignified vows of
love and commitment BRIAN GREIG asks.

= = = = 

The political struggle playing out in the ACT over the definition and
practice of civil registries for same-sex couples is about much more than
the definition of marriage.

It's about whether or not we live in a liberal democracy governed by secular
law, or whether we live in a theocratic society where Biblical law is
imposed upon us.

Let's be clear about this. The Australian Christian Lobby and its
conservative backers believe homosexuality is a sin. They believe marriage
to be sacred in the original sense of the word, and they believe that their
God, through the Bible, mandates marriage as being only between a man and
woman. More importantly, they believe it is their fundamental duty to impose
this law on all Australians by blurring the boundaries between marriage as a
sacrament and marriage as a secular institution. 

To date they have been remarkably successful, given that in 2004 the Howard
Government, with ALP support, not only banned same-sex marriage but
re-imposed the legal expectation that marriage will be for life. Suddenly
Leviticus was writing federal social policy and the separation between
Church and State was thrown out the window.

In Australia the Religious Right has succeeded in re-defining a civil
contract into a religious one, while other counties, such as Canada,
recognise same-sex marriages as being a secular human right worthy of
protection by a Charter of Rights.

Neither the Coalition nor Labor can provide a single, logical argument to
deny same-sex couples the right to marry. Every argument they come up with
to defend their position is undermined by the fact of the harmonious
existence of same-sex marriages overseas. And it is deeply offensive for
both parties to claim that the marriage ban is not discrimination against
homosexuals. That's exactly what it is. 

Chief Minister Jon Stanhope recognises this.

That's why he twice proposed to bring about a civil union scheme in the ACT,
so that same-sex couples in the Territory could solemnise their
relationships with friends and family, and have the State recognise that.
Where Stanhope's plan differed from the Tasmanian model already in
existence, was that it contained an element of ceremony.

This is why former Federal Attorney General Phillip Ruddock twice scuttled
the legislation. Simply because any element of ceremony offended the
religious sensibilities of the theocrats who want Sharia law, not Stanhope
law. 

According to the Religious Right, ceremonies "mimic marriage" and if the
State formally recognises gay unions in this way, then this undermines
religious marriage and demeans it. 

For the theocrats, the only acceptable form of relationship recognition for
same-sex couples, is no recognition.

To his great credit, Stanhope twice confronted this prejudice with his
proposal to allow a dignified ceremony, and when it was knocked back a
second time by the former Howard Government, Stanhope rightly asked, "What
has Mr Howard got against homosexuals?".

But there are now worrying signs that the same anti-gay pressure that Howard
applied against Stanhope is now being applied by Rudd. If this is true, then
for the sake of consistency Stanhope must put the very same legislation up
to Federal Labor as he did to the Coalition, and if Rudd overrides it, then
Stanhope's rhetorical question must be asked again. "What have you got
against homosexuals Mr Rudd?"

Stanhope should stand his ground. He said he wouldn't back down on
ceremonies and he shouldn't. If he was prepared to confront homophobia in
the Federal Coalition he must also be prepared to expose it within Federal
Labor. After all, Rudd has said he will not override Territory laws and
seeks a more co-operative relationship with the States and Territories.

More importantly, Stanhope has the mandate of his jurisdiction and the
overwhelming support of most Australians. 

Federal Attorney McClelland has disingenuously said the delay in Federal
approval for ACT legislation is to "ensure national consistency." This is
code for pressuring the Territory to be 'consistent' with the Tasmanian
model and its lack of ceremony. 

Territory Attorney General Simon Corbell has disingenuously said that the
delay in gaining a Federal green light for the Territory Bill was, "still a
better situation than under the former government." 

But if the sticking point with McClelland is ceremonies (and it is), then
the truth is the current Federal government is proving to be equally as
anti-gay as John Howard was on this point.

Despite the inexplicable fear and timidity on this topic from both Federal
Labor and the Coalition, that fact is most Australians don't give a toss.
The Galaxy Poll on this issue from June of this year, showed that more than
70 per cent of voters support equality for homosexuals while almost 60 per
cent support gay marriage itself.

What is so objectionable to a same-sex couple reciting some dignified vows
of love and commitment, and sharing that experience with friends and family?

Nothing of course. But Australia's Old Testament Taliban want no laws which
acknowledge the humanity of gay people and the sincerity of their
relationships. Stanhope must stand firm and remind such people that in a
pluralist society, freedom of religion also ensures freedom from it. 

= = = 

Brian Greig is a gay rights advocate and former Democrats' Senator
(1999-2005). 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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