Julia Gillard stance on Marriage Equality - 20 March 2011

Julia Gillard gives her strongest indication yet that she "personally" supports discrimination in the Marriage Act, boasts that she is "on the conservative side" of this issue, and tells us all to "read your Bible".

Gillard cites tradition as justification to discriminate against gay Australians

PM challenged to meet the families that her opposition to equality affects

"If 'tradition' was a reason to block equality, Julia Gillard would not have become Prime Minister, her relationship would not be legally recognised and her atheism would count against her." - Alex Greenwich, National Convener, Australian Marriage Equality

Marriage equality advocates have implored Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, to meet with couples who experience legal inequality and social exclusion because they cannot marry.

The call comes after Ms Gillard re-stated her opposition to same-sex marriage, saying it is because of her "traditional up-bringing" and out of respect for which she believes is Australia's cultural heritage.

Australian Marriage Equality spokesperson, Alex Greenwich, said Ms Gillard is showing a profound lack of empathy towards the problems faced by the tens of thousands of Australian same-sex couples who want to marry but can't.

"All we ask of Ms Gillard is that she meets with same-sex couples and their families, and opens her heart and mind to their stories, before making categorical statements that will perpetuate inequity and discrimination", Mr Greenwich said.

"The majority of Australians who support marriage equality deserve a Prime Minister who governs for the nation, not just for herself."

"In February Tony Abbott met with people affected by marriage discrimination, and it's time for Julia Gillard to do the same."

Mr Greenwich said it is profoundly disappointing that Ms Gillard invokes "tradition" to defend her position when she is an atheist in an unmarried relationship who is Australia's first female Prime Minister.

"If 'tradition' was a reason to block equality, Julia Gillard would not have become Prime Minister, her relationship would not be legally recognised and her atheism would count against her."

Earlier this month a Nielsen poll found that 57% of Australians support marriage equality, confirming the result of every poll on the issue conducted since 2006: majority support for the issue.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Julia Gillard
• Marriage Equality
• Secular
• Gay and Lesbian Rights
• Human Rights

[australianjoe]

Ah Ms Gillard. Please stop this race to the Right, the Coalition will always be more right-wing than you, you are not winning any conservative votes with this but you are losing plenty of progressive ones.

How can we possibly take you seriously in citing the Bible as a declared atheist? Seriously! You aren't even the first openly atheist Prime Minister and you really don't need to keep apologising to and courting the religious right. They didn't vote for you anyway and they never will.

[Merlyn613]

And another thing; Slavery was condoned in the Bible. Perhaps Julia could reinstate that. I could do with one in the kitchen. Let's go shopping at the slave market.

[ChaneyBrinkmanBurlin]

The only explanation that can possibly be given for this dazzlingly inconsistent cluster of beliefs and commitments is a perverse and unethical need to remain politically powerful.

[EvilKorbinDallas]

@MamaMario13 Sure, the census is coming up, lets see how much of it has increased ;) shes following the same act the European leaders have made, yet now islam makes a massive minority of Britain and Sharia law will be enforced in the years to come.

[MamaMario13]

@EvilKorbinDallas no, muslims make up roughly 1%

[MamaMario13]

Tell her if she doesnt change her stance then all the gays will move to New York lol

[guyfromdubai]

"The way society is, and how we got here."

Backwards thinking at its finest.

[TriSarahTopssss]

She says that this decision is "for her". Why does she get to decide what is best for a country which quite apparently feels differently to her. She is contradiction in herself. If we stay to what the Bible tells, the world won't progress, yes, many people people have faith in the bible but everyday more and more people are realizing that if we don't write our own future today and not stick to what was told 1000 years ago, we will be stuck in the same close-minded society forever. Also, FUCK HER

[justinsboyfan]

Yeh Julia. Let's go back

Into our past where females weren't aloud to VOTE, let alone be in parliament.. That's how our society workED and it CHANGED and it should continue to do so

[dlwitness]

how many lies did she make ?

[Jazziminee]

This is disgusting, how can a self proclaimed atheist use the bible as her reason for not allowing gay marriage? marriage is about love, regardless of gender. people take their own lives because of people not accepting who they are and the prime minister of our country is condoning this and promoting discrimination. It's Nauseating that anyone, let alone the leader our multi-cultural and diverse country, is promoting these views as acceptable.