Andrews supports marriage
Victorian Opposition leader Daniel Andrews says he supports same-sex marriage.
“I, like a growing number of Victorians, believe that it’s unfair that same-sex couples in Victoria — indeed right across Australia — are not able to exercise the option,” Andrews told the ABC’s 7.30 Victoria.
“The Commonwealth Marriage Act obviously is a federal act. I think that a growing number of Victorians and Australians are coming to the view that this is unfair.”
Equal Love convenor Ali Hogg welcomed Andrews’ comments.
“I am so pleased that Daniel Andrews has joined the many thousands of Australians who support the rights for equal marriage, not just for Victorians but for all Australians,” she said.
“Let’s hope this encourages others to follow suit and express their support before the Labor Party discusses the issue at its national conference in December.”
Hogg said Andrews has been invited to speak at the next Equal Love rally on August 13.
Andrews’ comments put him at odds with Prime Minister Julia Gillard who has consistently voiced her opposition to change. The Victorian branch of the Labor Party, however, passed a motion in 2009 supporting gay marriage.
We all have known setbacks and triumphs, but we have never lost our belief that we can make this great country the land of equality. In this decade we are living we will see Same-Sex Marriage happen, and we will see us included in the Federal Equal Opportunity Act, and the many areas of discrimination dissolved. But to achieve this we must keep up our spirits, keep fighting the bastards, and taking the journey down the road to that leads to Equality. We can dream the dream together.
Do not despair or give up when you are suffering a setback. Keep going and show people the way. The good will become good again, as most people are good, and they will start to see injustices in your life, and they will take it personally as you do. We will not sway because our passing Prime Minister is pandering to the extremist in the Catholic SDA Union, we will bit by bit build our case for justice, for Civil Rights, for all the great things that we want this country to be.
Let us remember the success of those who campaigned for us to be able to make love to our beloved, without the fear of jail. Their triumph shows us we can achieve our Civil Rights. Others are joining us on the same road and together we will overcome our differences. All this can be done and will be done in this great decade, in this great country. So do not give up and keep marching forward, and remember to celebrate what we have all achieved so far.
Good on these pollies for taking this stance. Maybe Victoria is gay friendly. I’ve never lived there but spent 15 years in WA and can tell you it is the most homophobic state in Australia. Even beats Tassie. Grew up in the UK where you would get bashed if you came out. Much better here in Aus land.
Both Brachs and Brumby took homophobic stances regarding Gay Marraige. These guys are in opposition. In this State (Victoria) that will be the case for a minimum of two terms unless Baillieu stuffs up real bad. The Labor right has historically been extraordinarily homophobic and these commitments only reflect desperation. The extreme right of the Labor party will eventually kill any notion of a party leading in social justice. View a priority in social justice; Rudd promised 200 million to a chaplaincy program for schools upon election, Gillard a further 220 million totally 440 million (WTF!). How much over the last 20 yrs. have Gay supportive organisations/programs recieved in Federal Government funding over the last twenty years, adjusted?
Give a small ‘l’ Liberal any time.
The Labor leader of the Opposition in NSW, John Roberston, also supports same-sex marriage.