My dyslexic resposne to Same-Sex Marriage Community Consultation been held by Hon. Tanya Plibersek MP

Michael Shreenan


Waterloo

NSW 2017



19th January 2011

Dear Hon. Tanya Plibersek MP

I am writing to confirm my personal support for the amendment to the marriage act to allow same sex couples to be married. I also wish to congratulate you in consulting your electorate on this subject.

My reason for this support is outlined below.

First of all as a gay man, I have personally suffered and witnessed the extremes of homophobia over many years, particular so when I was a teenager being brought up in Glasgow Scotland. I am pleased to say that the level of homophobia that existed then does not exist with the same viciousness now. Society has come a long way in that last few decades, never the less a lot more has to be done.

As a teenager, through homophobia I was made homeless three times, assaulted, and ex-communicated from my local church where I was highly active in and at the time was my only support network. I am pleased to say that having come through that I now have an active career in the welfare sector, and have been happily living with my partner for the last 11 years.

Despite having been in a secure, stable and loving relationship for the last 11 years, I do not have right to choose to become married, in the same way that my ‘heterosexual’ friends, family and work mates can. This I believe to be because of archaic and entrenched views by those who remain prejudice in our society. It addition these prejudices are enhanced by the lack of courageous, fearless and more modern politicians who are supposed to represent the views of everyone in their electorate through equality in its truest meaning of the word.

As I understand it is the current view of the Australian Labor Party that Marriage is between a man and woman and should not be open to same sex couples. In this day and age, it is unacceptable for Labour party to be anything other than on the side of equality, given its roots; history and it own claimed party values. This current stance is surely based on a non-objective; weak, ignorant and prejudiced view which to be honest I find shameful.

There is no logical reason why if I chose to do so, be allowed to marry my partner of 11 years.

I was brought up to understand that weddings are a time, where a couple would make a public commitment to each other to spend the rest of their lives together in a respectful union of love. That a marriage ceremony was when families of both partners where asked to acknowledge, support and respect this union, and celebrate it with them whilst welcome the couple in to each other’s families.

The arguments current circulating against same sex marriage as you are no doubt aware of a ranging from religious grounds, procreation, it would threaten the intuition of marriage, it would ruin tradition, and somehow would miraculous spread homosexuality (as it’s highly contagious) to wider audience.

The stupidity of these arguments should not take too much leadership or wisdom to challenge. I outlined some of the counter arguments below but am sure there are many more people out there that could do it more articulately and scientifically than I could.