Posts filed under ‘Advocates’
A mag for those in arms way
Brilliant and brave. OUTService a magazine by and for gay millitary servicers (of the US). While I’m quite anti-arms anything, I hope this magazine arrives wherever it needs to be.
To wedding or not. Lucky you have a choice
You might have read about a het couple in the Britain who want to have a civil union but not a marriage because homosexuals can’t get “married” in the UK and are limited to civil unions, and they think all enjoined couples should have the same right/choice to marry. Never mind that it is part campaign and part romantic and nearly all about policy. I can see what they’re on about and if they get the law changed to recognise gay marriage then good for them. But I’d prefer if marriage as an institution was scrapped altogether and we get back the real meaning of marriage, i.e. a contract between adults to share body and material comfort, then we’d see how popular it would really be.
But in the wider view, the fight for gay marriage is, of course, about non-discrimination and the right to be trapped by state laws. In the diehard campaign for the right for us to be married, here’s another no less poignant site that seeks to keep the fight alive and to overturn the hardline that is the defining symbol of us vs them.
The Potential Wedding album wants pictures of gay couples who really really want that jeweller’s certificate. I think I’ll get C to sign up so we can be in cute company.
In the meantime, let’s all live happily de facto and have the same rights as married couples bar the wedding bills and licence.
[PWA via a lovely piece by Dick Gross]
Petition for another go at SSM
Ah, the Greens. Good on ya. Please sign the petition (sign it, whether you think marriage is a good idea or not is irrelevant in this case).
Reintroducing the Marriage (Equality) Amendment Bill
This afternoon I reintroduced my Marriage (Equality) Amendment Bill into the Senate.
The Bill seeks to remove discrimination from the Marriage Act and give same-sex couples the right to marry.
The Greens believe that same-sex couples should have the same rights as other couples to celebrate their love and commitment through marriage. A majority of Australians support this.
Countries including Canada, the Netherlands, Sweden, Belgium, Norway, Spain, South Africa, Mexico and many states in the United States now recognise same-sex marriage. The sky hasn’t fallen in there and we know it won’t here in Australia.
While both major parties continue to be opposed to marriage equality, a majority of the Australian community are not. It is time for the community to have its voice heard on this important issue in our Federal Parliament.
Please add your name to this petition calling on Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott to give the members of the Labor and Liberal parties a conscience vote on marriage equality.
You can also download a copy of the petition to print out and get additional signatures for us to send to Ms Gillard and Mr Abbott.
To the Honourable Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives, and the Honourable President and Members of the Senate in Parliament assembled. The Petition of the undersigned draws to the attention of the Parliament the overwhelming public support for marriage equality. We believe that Australians should not be discriminated against in marrying the person they love on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender identity. We note that countries including Canada, the Netherlands, Sweden, Belgium, Norway, Spain, South Africa, Mexico and many states in the United States now recognise same-sex marriage. The sky hasn’t fallen in there and we know it won’t here in Australia. Your petitioners therefore request the Parliament to urge the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader to grant their members a conscience vote on this important issue.
Family being family
One a serious study, the other a too real poke at long-term gay couples. Both worth a look.
A study on children of lesbian couples, from birth to their late teens, found that these children were above average in behaviour, esteem and achievements. In other words, models of ideal youth. Check out the 18 (?) year study by Drs. Gartrell and Bo (www.nllfs.org/) and team, entitled US National Longitudinal Lesbian Family Study: Psychological Adjustment of 17-Year-Old Adolescents.
And the other, a laugh at what can happen to married gay couples.
To crown a Queen
Does anybody else like this show as much as we do? We’ve just finished S1 on pay TV. My, what tough challenges. In the encyclopaedia, the word ‘fabulous’ is next to a picture of a Drag Queen, y’know.
S2 is already in swing.
Arriba Mexico
Three cheers for Mexico City for sticking to its mandate to keep knocking down barriers against lesbians and gays. After allowing same-sex civil unions in 2007, the local assembly have voted to allow same-sex marriage and the attenuating rights that flow from it. The rest of the world, andele!
Queer superheroes
Spandex (does that say it all or what?), created by Martin Eden, is a comic graphic book series featuring all gay (and a couple of trannies) superheroes.
He’s fleshing out his characters and invites comments. [via LOTL]
For more queer comix, check out Prism Comics.
Very sad for Maine and for all hoomans
Legislation recognising same-sex marriages in Maine was overturned by hateful homophobes. Sad and angry me. Stupid peoples. Obviously they need to get out more – to other civilised nations that have allowed SSMs and where the population is much happier for not squabbling over this non-issue.
Linear as bent 