Human Rights Commissioner Tim Wilson鈥檚 call for marriage equality but respect for religions
HUMAN聽Rights Commissioner Tim Wilson has today made reference to Martin Place siege victim Tori Johnson in a plea for Australia鈥檚 parliamentarians to give the green light to same-sex marriage.
But in comments that have dismayed a marriage equality advocate, Wilson questioned whether it would be right to penalise people who might choose not to work at same-sex ceremonies due to a religious belief.
In a wide ranging speech at the National Press Club in Canberra this afternoon, Wilson, who is openly gay, said it was hypocritical for governments to expect all citizens to contribute equally but then arbitrarily deny some their equal rights.
鈥淓very day gay and lesbian Australians are expected to fulfil their civil obligations,” he said.
鈥淭hey鈥檝e paid their taxes, worked, volunteered in civil society, fought and died in battle, and fallen to save others at Port Arthur and Martin Place.
鈥淭hey鈥檝e met their responsibilities; shouldn鈥檛 they get their civil rights too?鈥�
Johnson, the manager of the Martin Place Lindt caf茅, was one of two people who died in December鈥檚 siege.
Wilson said that while marriage was a聽鈥渢ime-tested and valuable institution,鈥� it was strong enough to withstand change.
However, the commissioner said the issue had been raised with him about the consequences for religious freedom should same-sex marriage be legalised.
鈥淭here is concern that if the law changes, civil celebrants, venues and photographers will face fines if they don鈥檛 participate in weddings they disagree with, as has occurred in the United States,” he said.
鈥淚 do not think that is constructive way forward.”
Wilson, whose portfolio also includes sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex rights, also said state governments should cease and chooses to have this reflected on official documentation.
鈥淲e should never be using the law to break resilient marriages apart,” he said.
Wilson, who was by attorney general George Brandis, added that more needed to be done to educate service providers around trans* issues.
鈥淚n Brisbane I met with mothers desperately seeking access to medical and mental health services for their transgender children,” he said.
鈥淭heir stories were heartbreaking. All they wanted was the opportunity for their children to grow up and live happy, healthy lives.鈥�
Australian Marriage Equality (AME) national director Rodney Croome聽applauded Wilson鈥檚 continued support.
鈥淗is advocacy, particularly to libertarian and conservative decision makers, is critical to achieving this reform,” he said.
However, Croome believes聽religious celebrants already had the legal right to choose who they marry and AME saw no reason in watering down anti-discrimination protections for possible future ceremonies.
鈥淲edding industry providers have everything to gain and nothing to lose from marriage equality,” he said.
鈥淚鈥檇 urge Mr Wilson to do more to calm the fears of marriage equality opponents and less to legitimise them.
A forthcoming聽announced by Wilson last May will recommend steps to ensure LGBTI Australians received fair treatment from government services.
Doubt there will be too many bigots that pass the opportunity to make cash based upon their draconian religious beliefs anyhow.
The answer is simple: You CANNOT have your cake and eat it…….bitch!!
He can get fcked
Great way to muddy the debate Timbo. As a marriage celebrant is actually supposed to have a rapport with the couple they are officiating for, I’d say that this would be something that would not happen anyway.
As for religious organisations offering or restricting marriage; they already do that. But, isn’t it up to their organisation to decide whether or not they want to perform such weddings.
If you own a secular business such as function room, party provider, wedding planner you’d be a fool to turn down the big bucks and the $$$s as well. LOL. But, seriously, a baker is not offering a religious service and if granted a license to operate a business they fall subject to anti-discrimination legislation (mind you, I wouldn’t want a cake from a baker that was a Gay hater; any cake; pastry; bread etc).
All that being said, some businesses are going to make a lot of money and others are simply going to go to the wall. That’s the nature of business. Word of Mouth is the best advertising there is.
Well as someone who’s catered weddings in two countries where it’s illegal to have my own I suggest shut up, do your job and collect your wages
This suggestion by Wilson is an attempt to suggest that religious beliefs trump the rights of homosexual couples, that we should respect religious beliefs over theirs, is a dog whistle, pure and simple.
Attempt to suggest?it is practiced belief that goes without adequate challenge.
I have for over a year tried to engage with st Monica’s catholic college as a gay parent who upon what is all that can be identified as the trigger to cut out any communication with me to dismiss the mood subtle to justify failure.to speak to me in regards to their counselling??????? Of my child. To meet with having been pre advised as to the growing feelings that I would present on their face my objection to having my worth dismissed and their judgemental destructive opinionated poison being drilled into my child’s mind against my will that (please understand I’m not crazy and I went to lengths to assure authorities and others of my attempt to stop the silence and have the issues escalated)I would arrive in there face and that the ensuing massacre would be triggered by the most dangerous destructive self righteous and self absorbed principal who would have by his taunting and dismissal leave the blood of the children he was obliged to protect, be left having his ignorance and cruelty being no excuse for their blood all over his hands, now never the intention to do such
A thing, he given the worthless filth he dismissed me as needs to be removed from any authority he has in regards to the welfare of the children at his school.silence to me, and that sick cruel fuck dos not even alert the police. I knew the risk of my approach but i know the damage that these religious monsters deliver and it was the best of little alternatives I had. So disgusted and concerned that I didn’t even get a please explain from the police for my threat via numerous phone calls and emails to the school and to him personally. I went to them myself and asked they follow up with him. That they did no such thing is one of many reasons that these religious delusional destructive lunatics believe they have the right to escape the arm of the law in relation to homosexuals, but this is not a gay issue this needs to be seen as the joke it is that anyone can suffer because these fucking mad bastards actually believe that shit.
Mine is an informed comment believe you me! Having spent 80 percent of. My life battling an urge to end it given the shit I was unable to understand or control Why my dick got hard over boys. Please add a voice to the need to stop allowing the distraction the gay marriage argument provides for the heartless killers and keep close and remind yourself the second it’s not a constant presence for you. Gay marriage means fuck all to a kid who ends his life because he hates the prospect of another sunrise that brings with it the filth he is and these cunts preach to make sure he never forgets it.obviously gays are entitled to equality and gay marriage should not be a pic for discussion it should be demanded it is made available, it’s not and it won’t in a hurry. But should the distraction it provides be removed and the reality the poison that I don’t give. A fuck what ant cunt says to dispute it, that poison, in the minds of a child, from experience, in the mind of at least this grown man , makes taking your life a very real solution to ending your struggle and the battles these monstrous evil cruel judgemental sick fucks, make your life as you watch them held high in regard by all confirming further your feelings of worthlessness. we all need to wake the fuck up and address the reality that at the core of most suffering you will find a bible and a government official. Don’t any basted give me an opinion on my approach give me facts that refute what I maintain an unmoved will to have corrected or shut the fuck up and get out of my way! Mr Hanley at st Monica’s college in Epping Victoria. Look the fuck out you piece off destructive cruel shit. I warned you
Spare me a vista from the uniformed filth otherwise known as the one thing I can put a finger on that will more than likley deliver snap. I’ll destroy that cunt Hanley with the truth and save those deserving parents the heartache a negligent lunatic like Hanley sees fit to risk based on his stupid fucking religious beliefs.
Those perverted Untouchables need to have ( and only because whilst too busy enforcing and passing law on who the duck knows what based on the state of this place) their crucifixes replaced around their necks replaced with crack pipes. That there is no comparison given the destructive saturation that goes unchallenged these bastards put out there they make the damage you declare war on look like loose change in comparison
What hypocritical tosser. Will say anything to stay in his masters’ good books. Sack the little turd. He’s a disgrace!. A young Turnbull(shit). Even looks a bit like lying mongrel!
No one who works in the wedding industry would oppose gay weddings. They’d love them!
In Sweden they have the perfect system. The church who there is not above the state are obligated to marry everyone. Since the law allows same sex marriage the church has to comply. If not, they will be stripped off their right to wed people. The compromise is that the individual priest can refuse, but is obligated to find a replacement that will. You got to love that!!
Oh, Sweden, you are making too much sense!
I agree. He said it would be a good idea if celebrants could nominate their preference.
He doesn’t seem to be across the notion of what constitutes Human Rights
Religious celebrants already have the exemption. However, it is time for ALL people to be treated equally!! And since religion doesn’t discriminate, (only narrow-minded power-hungry people discriminate) neither should Celebrants!
As a straight man myself i will withdraw my support for Marriage Equality
His narcissistic political ambition has overridden any decency and humanity with children who have been sexually abused.
Gay men like him shouldn’t ever have children and get married
It’s too dangerous!
Didn’t know that gays were so selfish, heartless and shallow
According to Abbott, if you don’t want to work weekends, then don’t work weekends. By that logic if you don’t want to provide services to same-sex couples don’t work in an industry where you’ll be required to. Simple. If your religion is more important than someone’s right to equality and respect as a person, then it’s probably best you interact with the public at an absolute minimum. Using “religious beliefs” as an excuse not to sell someone a cake is bullshit. To quote Patsy Stone “Drop the attitude love, you work in a shop.”
I’m opposed to him holding the job he holds
What do you expect from a gay man who is a member of the Liberal Party? What self-respecting gay man would join that party? It reeks of internalised homophobia or Stockholm Syndrome or both. He’s a total tosser.
Exactly!
Myself and many other gays I know vote Liberal . I gay not for gay marriage either.you Vote Labour and I respect that it’s this great countries freedom of choice plead me mor tolerant
We’d still be illegal if it were up to the LNP . All Social Reforms have come from the Left, never the Right . Only fools &!Fascists would vote for the current LNP. It was a Gay guy who put Hitler into power& ditto with Reagan .
Go home Christopher Forsyth, you’re drunk.
Please don’t assume how I vote. I just will never vote for any party (read cult) that considers me a second class citezen. No self-respecting person would in my opinion.
My rights and self respect are much more important than $$$ or the illusion thereof.
I’d be concerned that a professional providing a service is behaving unprofessionally. That’s across the board for all fee for service industries.
No one in the wedding industry is a ‘professional’ re the full meaning of the word! It is just overpriced hospitality & shop services. Some may have a degree in business, or alike, but this is not specific to ‘wedding services’… Considering this, they would be fools not to just suck it up. Europe and U.S stats show GLBTI’s spend much more! (& look hotter! Ha).
So true, Lauren. If gay caterers started refusing to work at heterosexual weddings, the wider community would create an argument around professionalism. Why should this be any different?
Tim Wilson should be ashamed of himself.
Well, if someone says “no, I won’t do your wedding” it’s a bit different to “no I won’t do your faggot wedding you make me sick I hope jesus forgives you”
Who cares what this pompous moron shits for thoughts
That is also the currently Labor party position as well. It is wrong, but Tim Wilson’s view needs to be put into perspective
Tim is right. Why should ppl be forced to do something they dont believe in? I dont want someone to perform my ceremony simply for the money and be secretly hating it. I fully support ppl having the right to choose which after all is exsctly what we are fighting for. The right to choose to marry or not
You have it all wrong. It’s about whether our legal system will legitmise their hatred towards you. If their hatred will be protected. If it will be elevated higher than your own individual rights.
Can gay owned business owner legally refuse service to religious people? Can we make this into law?
Catholics can refuse to maery non catholics and divorcees so how is this different??
exactly what you just said, religion for some reason can discriminate and get away with it
I still dont see the sense in forcing someone to do something they dont believe in. It defies logic. A marriage doesnt need a religion. Faith needs a religion.
Maybe Krys… If you’re a person who does not believe in marriage for everyone you just should not marry anyone.
I believe in marriage for everyone if they choose to. I dont be暮ieve in forcing something onto others.
Agree. Who wants to be married by people who despise you?
In 2014, if a Human Rights Commissioner said he believed religious organisations should be able to discriminate against interracial marriage – purely because it was an interracial marriage – he would be asked to resign.
I’m tempted to ask Tim to stop making a mockery of gay relationships and to do the same.
This is perfect. Because both Racism and Homophobia are both ignorant intolerable fears. Yet one is socially acceptable in the 21st Century and the other isn’t. When will the world open its eyes.
Thanks Elle. Worse still, if I spoke in favour of mixed race marriage, I’d never have to explain myself. I would never be expected to create an anthropological, economic, biblical argument as to why. The moral weight of love would suffice. Yet, gays are still being lured into these intellectual discussions about the benefits of same-sex marriage. As if the moral weight of homosexual love is not equal to that of their heterosexual counterparts. A sad state in the 21st century.
Fuck off tim – we don’t get a choice to object to religious people coming into our shops etc.
Lmao
I think it’s a shame the audience at the NPC didn’t take water cannons with then to his speech. Such a twerp.
I think I don’t care what Tim Wilson thinks. I think he is an overpaid dilettante who should not be in the job he currently occupies. I think that he spends too much time being concerned with abstract minutiae and his pet ideologies over the lived reality of human existence and real human suffering.
As ever you said it so much better than I could, thank you.
“Overpaid dilettante” — Perfect! (Sadly, he’s not the only one.)
That’s fine by me. You don’t want to work at my big expensive wedding fuck off – plenty of other people will be happy to do it and pocket the cash. Imbeciles. What business is going to be stupid enough to knock back customers this way?
Btw I don’t disagree that Tim Wilson is a dickhead.
Dickhead.
I think Tim is a turkey.