Ok, so the truth is I went looking for Freedom to Marry’s new TV ad … which is indeed on their special Why Marriage Matters subsite. But I can’t find it yet on YouTube to share with you … so you’re getting this other nice short ad instead.
Marriage
15
Feb 11
WHY THE “MARRIAGE” WORD MATTERS
Sorry to recycle again, but this is a worthy follow up to the question, “are civil unions worse than nothing?”, by a married lesbian in limbo (Jane Rigby Silver Spring), in the Washington Post this week.
My favourite point: “Marriage matters, because marriage is how society decides whose relationships matter, and whose don’t. No matter what, gay people will fall in love and make homes together, as we always have. Marriage equality is about whether straight people are going to recognize those relationships. It’s how they decide who’s family.”
5
Dec 10
E.U. VICE PRESIDENT BACKS GAY MARRIAGE AND THE “IT GETS BETTER PROJECT”
She is better known for taking on and beating Microsoft, but here is a great video from the Vice President of the European Commission, Neelie Kroes. She shows us why we need to give all kids hope of a great future, and how the right to live with or marry the person we love is an important part of that future.
Great stuff from the European Union; and a great message that I hope all 69 year old grandmothers can share!
18
Nov 10
DE ROSSI ATTACKS GILLARD; GREENS MOTION WINS IN PARLIAMENT
The temperature is rising in Australia. There is nothing like a celebrity scorned and a minor party getting their way in Parliament to upset homophobic bliss.
Portia De Rossi told 702 ABC Radio Sydney that she expected Australia to be a world leader on the issue. ”I always thought Australia would pass this equal rights law long before America would,” she said.
Parliament voted 73-72 for MPs to gauge feelings among voters about gay weddings, which are currently banned under Australian law and opposed by both major parties.
16
Nov 10
16 MILLION GAY-STRAIGHT MARRIAGES IN CHINA
Wow! That’s all I can say. It’s obvious when one does the math, but still, it sometimes takes and expert to point it out before you take the issue as seriously as it should be taken.
At a guess some of these are mutually convenient marriages, where both parties knowingly get what they want. But the vast majority are unions of suffering – where one party is being duped and the family will suffer. Still, some battle on strongly: says Shu Yun, 28, the wife of a gay man, “The world is complicated. Every wife has her own concerns.”
16
Oct 10
FRANCE: NO MARRIAGE = NO PRIVACY
A French lesbian couple is seeking to force a change to France’s famed ‘civil code’ (known sometimes as the ‘other little red book’ or the Napoleonic code) on the basis that because their family does not have access to basic elements of privacy. (Think of all the intrusive questions, begrudged rights, lack of access in emergencies etc), so they conclude that the law must allow them to marry in order to guarantee them and their three children their constitutional right to privacy.
The couple have the watered-down French version of a civil union – the PACS, and clearly separate is not equal for them.
See a TV news story about their campaign here (in French)
I don’t know enough about the French Conseil d’Etat (constitutional court) to say what the chance of success is. But it is certainly an inventive argument that could be of interest globally.
9
Oct 10
PACS: SECOND CLASS IN IMAGE AND REALITY
Look what I found in the Paris Metro last night … a big advertisement for a wedding expo – which leaves us in no doubt about the status of the French same sex relationship recognition system (the P.A.C.S, for civil pact).
6
Oct 10
MY PROBLEM WITH STONEWALL
Where do I start?
You might wonder why someone who tries to understand the dilemmas of Australian Senator Penny Wong would be less charitable about a gay and lesbian rights organisation (like the UK’s Stonewall) being weak on marriage equality (their defence here).
The first difference is that Penny Wong isn’t paid to promote gay rights; Stonewall is. Secondly Penny Wong answers to millions of constituents who really don’t support equality. Secondly Stonewall answers only to gays and lesbians who – across all known data – do support marriage equality. Thirdly if one pitches oneself as “the” gay and lesbian charity, as Stonewall do in their slogan, then one has to represent properly.
As Stonewall co-founder Michael Cashman MEP puts it: “what part of equality doesn’t Stonewall understand?” And just as importantly, how did they put themselves in this corner?
24
Jul 10
NEW ESSAY – LOVE IN A COLD CLIMATE
My latest essay is published in The Age (Melbourne) and the Sydney Morning Herald today – this newspaper version is about 80% of the full essay
It was originally titled ’Love in A Cold Climate’ and is published in the next edition of the Griffith Review (Edition 29) out next week.
I will provide the official link when it becomes available on the Griffith Review website – in the mean time click through for the full essay.
