Smeagol-Gollum
29-05-2004, 00:37
Queers overboard' sparks backlash
By Suzanne Carbone
May 29, 2004
David McCarthy says the move to ban same-sex marriages has made gay rights a major election issue.
"Last time it was children overboard, this time it's queers overboard."
David McCarthy, a gay activist who has been approached by the two major parties to stand for Federal Parliament, is horrified at John Howard's move to ban same-sex marriages.
Mr McCarthy, the co-convener of the Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby, said the rights of gays and lesbians would now be a major election issue for homosexuals.
Victoria's gay lobby group, the ALSO Foundation, is already heading a national campaign for federal legislative reform, known as the Equal Rights Network. ALSO's executive officer, Adam Pickvance, said it was the first time gay and lesbian groups had joined to push for national reform, namely the recognition of de facto relationships in areas such as taxation, Medicare, social security law and defence force entitlements.
They will target marginal electorates and highlight how MPs vote to ban same-sex marriages. "I hope it will reveal the candidates and sitting members for where they stand on issues of basic human rights," he said.
Mr McCarthy said the Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby would hold candidate forums in the Labor seat of Melbourne, held by Lindsay Tanner by 19.9 per cent , and the Liberal seat of Higgins, held by Peter Costello with 8.4 per cent.
The group would also distribute questionnaires to sitting MPs and candidates on issues including gay marriage and adoption, and release scorecards in the week before the election. "What we want is to be treated exactly the same as Janette Howard and Janine Lacy (Mark Latham's wife) and enjoy the same privileges that other Australians have," he said.
Mr McCarthy said both parties had approached him around February to stand for federal pre-selection. "I thought it was joke to be honest, simply because I'm not a member of either party," he said.
Mr Pickvance stressed that legislative reform was not solely a gay and lesbian issue. "This is about basic human rights and recognition of people. What John Howard is seeking to do is further exclude gay and lesbian people from society," he said.
SOURCE.
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/05/28/1085641712098.html
COMMENT.
Yet again we see the Howard Government attempting to use the bigotry of some in an attempt at "wedge politics".
Last time it was the disgraceful lie that refugees were throwing their children overboard, this time its gays being targeted.
I doubt if the electorate can be so easily manipulated.
Send Howard home by Christmas.
By Suzanne Carbone
May 29, 2004
David McCarthy says the move to ban same-sex marriages has made gay rights a major election issue.
"Last time it was children overboard, this time it's queers overboard."
David McCarthy, a gay activist who has been approached by the two major parties to stand for Federal Parliament, is horrified at John Howard's move to ban same-sex marriages.
Mr McCarthy, the co-convener of the Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby, said the rights of gays and lesbians would now be a major election issue for homosexuals.
Victoria's gay lobby group, the ALSO Foundation, is already heading a national campaign for federal legislative reform, known as the Equal Rights Network. ALSO's executive officer, Adam Pickvance, said it was the first time gay and lesbian groups had joined to push for national reform, namely the recognition of de facto relationships in areas such as taxation, Medicare, social security law and defence force entitlements.
They will target marginal electorates and highlight how MPs vote to ban same-sex marriages. "I hope it will reveal the candidates and sitting members for where they stand on issues of basic human rights," he said.
Mr McCarthy said the Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby would hold candidate forums in the Labor seat of Melbourne, held by Lindsay Tanner by 19.9 per cent , and the Liberal seat of Higgins, held by Peter Costello with 8.4 per cent.
The group would also distribute questionnaires to sitting MPs and candidates on issues including gay marriage and adoption, and release scorecards in the week before the election. "What we want is to be treated exactly the same as Janette Howard and Janine Lacy (Mark Latham's wife) and enjoy the same privileges that other Australians have," he said.
Mr McCarthy said both parties had approached him around February to stand for federal pre-selection. "I thought it was joke to be honest, simply because I'm not a member of either party," he said.
Mr Pickvance stressed that legislative reform was not solely a gay and lesbian issue. "This is about basic human rights and recognition of people. What John Howard is seeking to do is further exclude gay and lesbian people from society," he said.
SOURCE.
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/05/28/1085641712098.html
COMMENT.
Yet again we see the Howard Government attempting to use the bigotry of some in an attempt at "wedge politics".
Last time it was the disgraceful lie that refugees were throwing their children overboard, this time its gays being targeted.
I doubt if the electorate can be so easily manipulated.
Send Howard home by Christmas.