Senate report 'chooses bigotry over equality'

November 26, 2009

Equal Love expresses great disappointment that the Senate legal and constitutional affairs committee today recommended against granting same-sex couples equal marriage rights.

Its report follows the largest parliamentary inquiry in Australian history -- receiving more than 26,000 public submissions. Many were heartfelt messages of support from people in same-sex relationships who are directly affected by the discrimination in the Marriage Act.

"The Senate has chosen bigotry over equality, and irrational fear over logic. It has preferenced the views of a small minority of conservatives over the vast majority of Australians who want equal rights for same-sex couples. Homophobia has once again triumphed in the Australian Parliament," said Tim Wright, a spokesperson for the Equal Love campaign.

"The simple fact of the matter is that same-sex marriage would bring great happiness to many thousands of Australians, and it would harm no one. If the Rudd Government wishes to pander to the religious right, it should expect a backlash from the gay and lesbian community at next year's federal election," said Wright. "Kevin Rudd's opposition to marriage equality has made him almost as unpopular in our community as John Howard was."

"All we're asking for is equality -- nothing more, nothing less. Public opinion is firmly on our side, so amending the Marriage Act should be a political no-brainer," he said. "We're planning large rallies right across the nation this Saturday to show that we reject the Government's anti-gay stance. The Senate report has only made us more determined to win our right to equality."

The rallies will launch a National Year of Action for Same-Sex Marriage. "Our aim is to mobilise tens of thousands of people to campaign for same-sex marriage in the lead-up to next year's federal election. It will be a massive grassroots effort -- speaking to people on the streets, changing minds one by one, until the public pressure for equality becomes irresistible," said Wright.