Bisexual advocate dismisses ACL link

Bisexual Alliance Victoria president James Dominguez has said he is “horrified” his comments are being used against the push for marriage equality in a new Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) video.

The online video titled “‘Marriage Equality’- No consequences? Wait a minute…” links same-sex marriage to polyamory, citing comments made by former High Court justice Michael Kirby,
Brisbane-based polyamorist Rachelle White, and Dominguez.

Dominguez’s comments come from an article published in The Australian about the Alliance’s submission to the recent Senate Inquiry.

In the article, Dominguez and his wife Rebecca were named as a “power couple” of the polyamorous community.

Dominguez told the Star Observer he supported marriage between two people, regardless of gender, and the couple were no longer representatives for the polyamory community.

While Rebecca Dominguez is the former president of PolyVic, a polyamorous support group in Victoria, the couple had not held any formal positions in the polyamory community “for years”.

The Bisexual Alliance’s Senate submission also made no reference to polyamorous marriage.

“Marriage is a symbolic event that conveys to those present, and to the broader society, the commitment of one person to another,” part of the submission read.

Dominguez said he now worried about speaking out for marriage equality for fear he would be misquoted or his comments twisted.

“We, in good conscience, made a positive comment of support for marriage equality, not because of any agenda but it’s just something we think is right,” he said.

“We think marriage equality is inevitable and marriage equality will come, no matter what people who are afraid of it might think.

“Our comments of support have been turned into something divisive and damaging.”

Australian Marriage Equality national convenor Alex Greenwich said the ACL had no arguments left except fear.

“The ACL’s scaremongering is a sign of desperation and will be rejected by the majority of fair-minded Australians who want their gay friends and family members to be able to share in the values, traditions and joys of marriage as an exclusive, lifelong union,” he said.

“The international experience proves there is no link between same-sex marriage and polygamy, which is why conservative figures like [beyondblue chairman] Jeff Kennett, [UK prime minister]
David Cameron, and New Zealand prime minister John Key have no problem supporting same-sex marriages.

“Its offensive nature will drive undecided politicians and members of the public towards supporting marriage equality.”