If last week is anything to go by, it seems the biggest threat to forging ahead with LGBTI rights in Australia is apathy.
It took the worried urgings of PFLAG national convenor Shelley Argent and a few others last Friday morning to point out that only seven submissions had been received from the LGBTI community as part of the public consultation for Queensland Deputy Premier Andrew Fraser鈥檚 civil union bill.
It was reported that the Australian Christian Lobby, however, had managed a flood of 300 letters.
I can鈥檛 speak to the quality of submissions from either side, whether pro-forma letter, or heartfelt response, but the difference is marked.
Queensland does not have a relationship register, or civil union scheme, for same-sex couples like those operating in most southern states.
While there has been much derision of these schemes 鈥� many claim they will 鈥榬egister鈥� their dog, but not their life partner 鈥� they still provide a legal avenue for same-sex couples to prove they are in a relationship. It might not be perfect, but it鈥檚 something.
Small steps to the end goal of equality.
Luckily, same-sex couples, like unmarried straight couples, are considered 鈥榙e facto鈥� under Australian law, so when it comes to the legal crunch, most of the time gay and lesbian couples are covered.
Perhaps this goes some way to explaining why Queenslanders didn鈥檛 feel the need to put pen to paper, or the less romantic finger to keyboard, to share their enthusiasm for a state civil union scheme.
A poll released this year, commissioned by Australian Marriage Equality, showed 75 percent of those surveyed believe same-sex marriage was 鈥渋nevitable鈥�.
Given the lay of the current federal Parliament, 鈥渋nevitable鈥� may be further away than we think.
Those who expect politicians to do the right thing by these numbers need to seriously think again. This battle is far from over, and more effort is needed.
It鈥檚 a shame more people couldn鈥檛 take a few minutes out of their day to share their stories and how a scheme like this might impact their lives.
Perhaps it won鈥檛. Perhaps it鈥檚 marriage or bust.
But the parliamentary committee report-back, due on November 21, may unflatteringly reveal that people simply don鈥檛 care.
I live in Victoria and don’t believe I need to respond to this. Also, as I am not an advocate of civil registers, if I did live in QLD, I would not support this. For me, it’s a change to the marriage act or nothing! We aren’t second class citizens and should not be treated any differently just because we love who we love.
Andie: if people didn’t know they could make a submission, you can’t blame them if they didn’t. The ACL just rounded up the “click and send” brigade – and the committee looking at that Bill discount such campaigns as not being representative. Once the call went out, the response from “our” side was overwhelming.
You don’t get 75% “inevitability” ratings from the public if you haven’t pushed and shouted and cajoled and fought to get them there.
Cut us a little slack would you and stop being so Chicken Little?
I was at Parliament House last week when the Kawana MP revealed only 9 submissions supporting civil partnerships had been received. He was suggesting this proves that Qld does not want civil partnerships. A few of us sent the call out through our networks for urgent action.
Yesterday at the Parliamentary committee public hearing Dean wells MP revealed 5,000 submissions had been received. I believe they are mostly against. ACL and other groups are highly organised and they DO take action.
Equality is not granted automatically, especially when many MP’s believe we are 2nd class citizens and deserve inferior treatment.
If people want equal treatment under law, they must tell their MP.
Apathy keeps us as 2nd class citizens.