Dear Andrew Leigh,

I write this letter with hopes that it will assist in persuading you to support marriage equality. It has no doubt come to your attention that the current legal situation in Australia in regards to same sex marriage is considered unacceptable by a huge proportion of the population. Marriage equality is something that can and should be changed, and yet the government consistently lets down Australian citizens by not supporting their right to this equality.

What sort of message is this sending? We are told discrimination is wrong, but even in such a progressive country as Australia, legislation exists that discriminates against people based solely on their sexual orientation! All people deserve equal rights, as Australians agreed when they chose to support the legal equalisation of women and Aboriginals. Not allowing rights to people because of their sexual orientation is so very similar to not allowing rights to people because of their race or gender.

There are no relevant arguments against legalising gay marriage. Arguments that same sex marriage will demean the institution of marriage are simple prejudice. Marriage has a wide range of meanings, none of which specifically include the role of procreating or raising children – also popular arguments against same sex marriage by bigoted individuals. Many married couples decide not to procreate or raise children, and many same sex couples have raised children with no ill effects caused by their parents’ sexuality. Marriage is not a religious ceremony, and civil marriage is distinctly distinguished from religious marriage, negating any stance religious institutions can rationally take against it.

You seem to be under the impression that a majority of voters in your electorate do not want marriage equality. While I’m very much in doubt as to whether this is true, it is seemingly a valid point. It is a politician’s job to make sure they are representing the views of their voters, isn’t it? You may then think that it’s rude of me to throw around words like ‘prejudice’ and ‘bigotry’ when referring to these people, but I believe that they should not have the right to choose whether or not I can marry another woman because they don’t think it’s ‘normal’. I don’t think I have ever heard of anyone telling a heterosexual person that their relationship is ‘wrong’, and I wish that all people had that same courtesy. Homosexuality is normal, and it is your responsibility to make sure that my rights, and the rights of everyone else in your electorate and in Australia, are not impinged upon by those with no grounds on which to make that decision.

The laws and ideas of what marriage is can change and have changed substantially, both historically and currently, in countries all over the world. It is time for change here and now. Marriage equality is just one more step towards a non-prejudiced society. Australians want this equality. We want same sex marriage legalised. But we need the support of the government to make it happen.

Sincerely,

Laura Brazier