As a journalist, who also works as a government speechwriter, I rarely put my political views out there, however the one topic I have every right to get on my soapbox about, is same-sex marriage.
Why this is even a ‘debate’ is beyond me. Whether gay or straight, any person with a shred of humane and common sense, should see this simply as a matter of human rights.
It is about gay people having the same rights as every other person on this planet. It’s not a privilege, but a right. As the world seems to become more and more accepting of ‘homosexual’ people, we now have the hurdle surrounding the right to marry.
And so Australia’s is experiencing its historic first same-sex marriage postal survey – one that will cost tax payers $122 million (yes you read that correctly).
As a gay man, I must point out how outlandishly insulting this is – that my happiness to be ‘married’ is to be decided by public vote.
Imagine the outcry if straight people needed permission before tying the knot! So why is it any different for the LGBTI community? The simple answer is fear, which is the basis for homophobia.
And as for going against tradition, it was once a tradition that women couldn’t vote and indigenous Australians were classed as – flora and fauna!
Let’s keep moving forward Australia. In the direction that is quite simply the right way to go.
Same-sex marriage is already legal in 23 other countries and the earth didn’t cave in. In fact their economies improved as a result. Once legalised here, Australia stands to improve its economy by a staggering $650 million annually.
And so, as the same-sex marriage debate ramps up, so does the campaigning. A large part of my own effort has been through the magazine for which I write – DNA. When my editor Andrew Creagh asked if I could help by raking in my celebrity pals to do a #YES selfie, I was only too happy to oblige. After all, I’ve been running the Straight Mate interview for the past thirteen years!
So I asked, and the response was so heart-warming that I actually cried. Actors, presenters, sportspeople and such, some even overseas, all said yes and began sending through their selfies.
Some had frustratingly been gagged by their government-based employer, yet their attempt to stand up to the directive was commendable, and something I’ll always remember.
The world is a different place to when I was young, but there are many similarities as well. War, political conflict and social unrest are rife just like the days of Richard Nixon, Vietnam, nuclear threats, feminism, black rights the Cold War and the counterculture revolution.
We are now in a new civil rights era of history, and the one factor that gets me through it all, the one thing that eases the anger and anguish, is the support.
The LGBTI community will always support each other, that goes without saying. But the support from our straight allies makes my heart swell. These people make me realise that the world is still a kind and compassionate place – despite those who inflict their hate and fear.
So thank you to all those people who support same-sex marriage, who support the LGBTI community, and who support me!
As the equality mantra states – love wins.
It always will.
Visit the the DNA Magazine #YES Support link here
https://www.dnamagazine.com.au/dna-supports-yes-vote/
A gallery of celebrity #YES support!
The Michael Cassel Group have made their own great video, where the Kinky Boots cast say ‘Yeah!’ Watch it below, and look out for Cyndi at the end!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpoDEgs4BnE&feature=youtu.be
A timeline of global legalised same-sex marriage
2001– The Netherlands
2003 – Belgium
2005 – Spain & Canada
2006 – South Africa
2009 – Norway & Sweden
2010 – Portugal, Iceland & Argentina
2012 – Denmark
2013 – France, Brazil, Uruguay & New Zealand
2014 – The United Kingdom
2015 – Ireland, Luxemburg & The United States
2016 – Columbia & Greenland
2017 – Finland & Slovenia & Germany
1 Comment
Love is Love. As the dear Gough Whitlam would have said “It’s time”.