Leader of the Australian Sex Party Fiona Patten met with members of the Gay and Lesbian Community yesterday ahead of a rally for same-sex marriage on Saturday.
Hundreds are expected to rally on Saturday against Kevin Rudd’s ban on Gays and Lesbians tying the knot. Patten said “It is extraordinary that in 2010 we still have laws that discriminate on the grounds of sexuality.”
Patten’s sister is gay and so the issue is a very personal one to her commenting “the fact she can’t marry makes it very personal for me. I’m angry and so are hundreds of thousands of mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters of gay people who want to marry.”
In April Rudd announced via twitter his son Nick had proposed to his long-standing girlfriend Zara, Rudd noted at the time “They are over the moon and Therese is even more over the moon.”
Patten said that “If Kevin Rudd’s son was gay, everything would change. Because it doesn’t affect him, Rudd prefers to pander to his right wing Christian masters.”
In Adelaide supporters of Marriage Equality will rally on the steps of Parliament House from 1pm and GLBTIQ couples will “illegally” tie the knot in protest of the ban on Marriage Equality.
Former Prime Minister John Howard introduced the ban in 2004 in a move to try and win far right wing conservative votes. Since the ban was introduced approval for Marriage Equality has sky rocketed from 38% in a survey in 2004 to over 60% in a 2009 galaxy poll.
The ceremonies will be unofficial because South Australia does not have Civil Ceremony laws and the Rudd Government maintains Howard’s ban on Marriage Equality. It is hoped that on Saturday people who have not had someone close to them who is openly gay or lesbian will see gay and lesbian people like most people just want to have someone to love and to be treated equally under the law.
The rally will be a roller coaster ride of mixed feelings, ranging from the happiness of seeing life partners celebrate their love combined with the sadness and disappointment of knowing that in the 21st century Australia still discriminates against people on the basis of their sexuality.
What do you think about the current laws against same-sex marriage?
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