Why marriage should be between a man and a woman
Sydney Morning Herald 10 August 2017
Family First Comment: Australia are going to be voting on the redefining of marriage – so some interesting commentary is coming out. Especially this one…
(PS: Senator Wong (referred to) is a key supporter of same-sex marriage)
“On the issue of marriage I think the reality is there is a cultural, religious, historical view around that which we have to respect. The party’s position is very clear that this is an institution that is between a man and a woman.” ….It seems right now no one can make any statement in favour of marriage without being condemned for being a “hater” or “bigot”. However, the statement doesn’t come from Mr Bernardi, but from that other strong-minded senator from South Australia, Penny Wong. Senator Wong articulated the traditional view of marriage in an interview on the Sunday program on network TEN in 2010. It’s a bold statement, sure. But it’s also a fair and reasonable summary of how many Australians feel about marriage. And given that Senator Wong is a woman in a committed lesbian partnership, no one could say the statement was homophobic.”
“On the issue of marriage I think the reality is there is a cultural, religious, historical view around that which we have to respect. The party’s position is very clear that this is an institution that is between a man and a woman.”
If I told you that was a quote from Cory Bernardi, Lyle Shelton or worse, that oft condemned unreconstructed traditionalist Tony Abbott, would you consider it just more evidence of their homophobia? Many commentators would. It seems right now no one can make any statement in favour of marriage without being condemned for being a “hater” or “bigot”.
However, the statement doesn’t come from Mr Bernardi, but from that other strong-minded senator from South Australia, Penny Wong. Senator Wong articulated the traditional view of marriage in an interview on the Sunday program on network TEN in 2010. She spoke it in that calm, emphatic metre which has made her so formidable in our parliament.
It’s a bold statement, sure. But it’s also a fair and reasonable summary of how many Australians feel about marriage. And given that Senator Wong is a woman in a committed lesbian partnership, no one could say the statement was homophobic. I accept of course that she was speaking in support of her party’s position while working hard to change it. But do not miss her deeper point – the traditional position deserved respect. She acknowledged that many Australians have traditional views on marriage formed by culture, religion, and history. That is still true.
Senator Wong wasn’t homophobic then, and she’s certainly not homophobic now. However she has changed her view on whether the traditional view is one worthy of respect and can be spoken. I won’t take issue with her argument for redefining marriage here. We disagree, no doubt, but I would strongly defend her right to express her beliefs. However, everyone who is passionate about our democracy should take issue with her argument against a plebiscite.
READ MORE: http://www.smh.com.au/comment/why-marriage-should-be-between-a-man-and-a-woman-20170810-gxt87w.html
