Most of the arguments against marriage equality boil down to fear.

Dear Dr Leigh,

I’m writing to support and encourage you to continue your advocacy for marriage equality, and to ask that you work to legislate on this issue, just as soon as you’ve got us a carbon tax.    

I lived in Berkeley, California, for a year while on exchange from the ANU.  I ended up living in a housing co-operative with around 40 LGBTQI people, many of whom were activists instrumental in the organised opposition the infamous Proposition 8, a referendum that ended same-sex marriage in California.  The campaign for Prop 8 was funded largely by church groups, running lines about how unnatural it was for same-sex couples to marry.  It was a really horrible time for a lot of people- particularly how the whole thing energised so much hate against LGBTQI people who were asking for something pretty conservative- the ability to marry.  

It struck me, at the rallies and protests I attended that year with my friends, that we are fortunate in Australia to not have anywhere near the same kind of divisive identity politics.  Equal marriage shouldn’t even be an issue in Australia, where our diversity is meant to be a positive and productive force.  I’m kind of surprised that it hasn’t happened already, that politicians haven’t seen the overwhelming public support  (62% in 2010!) and just gotten it done.  I think many people just assume it will get done, and so don’t speak up as much as they should.  That clears the way for politicians to get lobbied by a lot of hysterical people who believe gay-ness is some kind of debauched lifestyle choice.  

To me, most of the arguments against marriage equality boil down to fear.  That women marrying women and men marrying men will damage hetero relationships. That children will think it’s ok and turn gay themselves.  The logic behind this is sickening to me, twisted as it is by fear and insecurity.  And when you think about it, it’s insulting to anyone who has really loved another person. We don’t fall in love with and marry and raise children with a gender.  

 All around Australia, people still use “gay”, “fag”, “lezzo”, “dyke” and more as insults, designed to undermine people’s perceived worth.  I went to a Catholic high school of around 800 people where I only knew of two out people.  A few weeks ago a friend called to tell me he was bi, but he still wasn’t sure how to tell his parents.  Homophobia is alive and well in this country, as I’m sure politicians know better than almost anyone.  But unlike many of us, you can do something about it.  Formal legal recognition of same-sex marriage is a way of the Government saying: get past it.  

This country has bigger things to worry about than policing the ways in which consenting adults express their commitment in long-term relationships.  Can we please just get it done?

Sincerely,

Leah Ginnivan.