Tony Abbott’s forgettable performance last night on ABC’s Q&A is now even more forgettable in the wake of Malcolm Turnbull’s “I’m quitting” bombshell today. Abbott seemed startled and surprised by the questions, but they could all be categorized as bleeding obvious. The population question, the asylum question, the gay question and Abbott failed to have a concise or articulate answer for any of them and seemed he could do with some coaching from a high school debating team.
The Gay question or the question of support for same sex marriage was a poorly asked question and deserved the poorly delivered response. The debate is not about who gets to wear the frock but about equality in the recognition of same sex relationships. The whole debate has been hijacked by the ceremony of marriage thing and it’s become laughable.
As a forty-something gay man I don’t what a law that gives me the happiest day of my life or even the symbolism of a wedding ring, I’d happily settle for some quick and efficient online registration. Without the car and bouquets but with Federal laws in regards to discrimination. Pity the Federal public sector employees and Centerlink customers who can be discriminated against with no redress as there is no law to be broken.
For all the talk on the issue where are the gay men and women demanding that then term marriage be omitted from the debate. Am I only one who thinks like this? Dumbing the issue down and using the term marriage will not help the cause.
Are there no contemporary leaders or voices from within Australia’s gay and lesbian community that can shift this focus? I think perhaps not. Rodney Croombes is a respected GLBT activist and his years of work duly recognized and rewarded but I can’t help think even he is yesterday’s gay man.
My advice to Tony Abbott, Kevin Rudd, the gay activists. Divorce yourselves from the word marriage, for better or worse.
WordPress Tags: Q&A,anti discrimination,Kevin Rudd,same-sex relationships,Malcolm Turnbull,Tony Abbott,relationships,Centerlink,GLBTBlogger Labels: Q&A,anti discrimination,Kevin Rudd,same-sex relationships,Malcolm Turnbull,Tony Abbott,relationships,Centerlink,GLBT
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