Hello lovelies
Tonight I wanted to write a little something about a very real topic that’s happening in Australia right now, and that is the current plebiscite that is taking place (aka the same sex marriage postal vote) (aka imo the most ridiculous thing to have ever happened)
The fact that this is even a decision in the first place, breaks my heart. Let alone, all the ‘vote no’ campaigns I have seen lately.
The thought that anyone who is against same sex marriage has a chance to destroy the hope of marriage for millions of LGBTI couples makes me sick to my stomach. You’re not in a gay relationship? Great. It doesn’t effect you, thus I believe you shouldn’t have a say in other peoples relationships.
This was written in the sky over Sydney recently, and I can't even imagine the impact it would have had on the LGBTI community that saw it.
What the ‘vote no’ campaign are saying, and what you can inform people of that use these statements as a reason to vote no:
Example:
“If the state redefines marriage it also redefines how you can speak, think, advocate and believe about marriage”
Response:
- Marriage has been redefined over a number of years, for example, the bible allowed women to be forcibly married to their rapists or to the men who enslaved them. It endorsed polygamy and child brides.
- Just because marriage equality may be approved, does not mean that churches will be forced to participate in same sex marriages if they wish not to due to religion.
- Example: “Gay and lesbian friends already have equality”
Response:
Then where is their freedom? If the freedom to say “I do” is not freedom of speech, then I don’t know what is.
Yes, de facto relationships are granted similar rights to those who are married, but because same sex couples cannot get married, they are not afforded equal protection under the law.
Put it this way, Imagine a de facto, same sex couple in which one if in hospital dying or unable to make decisions for themselves, their partner can be denied the opportunity to make decisions on their behalf, despite how long they have been together. They can even be banned from being by their side as they are not married, meaning, their mother and father, with whom they may have no relationship with, would have more rights over their dying body than their life partner.
The dying partners wish to donate organs, be cremated, or to even have their partner watching over them as they leave the world can be denied.
The status of their union can impact property division, and even inheritance rights. Marriage ensures undeniable rights to insurance, superannuation and belongings should the other one die. Without a valid marriage, there could be a long and costly battle with the court.
Example:
"Most of us know someone who is same-sex attracted and we want only the best for them, but we also love marriage as traditionally understood and want to maintain what is special about this relationship.”
Response:
The postal survey does NOT challenge "traditional marriage", there is no such thing. Marriage has evolved and will continue to evolve over many thousands of years. “Traditionally” women could be traded for better social standing, money, tools and even weapons.
In Australia, the marriage age was not set at 18 until the introduction of the marriage act in 1961. Previously, it was as low as 12 for girls and 14 for boys.
From the 1860’s, the rights of Aboriginal people to marry were severely regulated. In 1959, after an aboriginal woman was denied permission to marry a white man, Robet Menzies promised that this sort of discrimination would never be included int he marriage laws of Australia again.
Example:
“Some bullshit about terminating the family bloodline”
Response:
As if gay people will suddenly turn straight and push out some kids if marriage is denied to them.
As an Australian, unfortunately our country and government do so many things that make me feel ashamed to be a citizen; such as the poverty of the indigenous population and the inhumane treatment of refugees; but with everything else going on in the world right now such as climate change, nuclear war, and a sexist racist running the white house, voting yes is quite literally the smallest thing you could do to bring such joy to two people in love.
Vote Yes <3
@missy @rambo