gay marriage: not a laughing matter mr katter

By Breeana Humphreys

There I was, just relaxing on the couch, watching the news, when I was hit by a moment of stomach turning revulsion and anger so strong that I had the overwhelming need to hit something. Or more specifically, someone. A Mr Bob Katter to be precise. The Independent MP for Kennedy in Queensland is a controversial public figure, always expressing his crazy opinions to the media.

This time, it was about gay rights. A reporter asked ‘Mr. Katter, will you be talking to your constitutes in Kennedy about, um, whether they support gay marriage?’ In fits of ridiculing laughter, Katter replied ‘No, I don’t think I need to ask them about that, I think I know their attitudes’. The reporter further asked ‘And what are those attitudes?’ And here is where my stream of swear words spewed out as Katter, still laughing ignorantly stated ‘It’s not in favour, I mean, if you want to have a relationship, you’re gonna have it, but you can’t ask the Government of Australia to bless it’.

Bastard.

Now, I am a straight gal myself, but ridiculous attitudes such as these make me so angry and upset you could quite easily think I’m the organizer of Mardi Gras. My parents have definitely given me suspicious looks whenever I vehemently argue with anyone against gay rights, that’s for sure.

But really, this man is meant to be a leader of our country. Someone who represents our values and beliefs. Someone who should protect the human rights of equality and justice. Not someone who assumes his own outdated, narrow-minded view is also held by every single person in his constitute.

In this day and age, I think it’s ridiculous not to allow same-sex marriage in Australia. We are a secular society after all. And if marriage is supposed to be so ‘sacred’ why do we have divorce? With every third Australian marriage ending in divorce, gays probably have a better chance of making their marriage work than the rest of us.
But allowing gay marriage won’t just let those of the same-sex have their own ‘white wedding’ too, it will be a giant step forward for their equality.

Recently, a Sydney high school was thrown into controversy when a female student complained that the school were refusing to allow her to take a female partner to her school formal.
Whilst the specific school was bombarded with angry reactions to the media coverage of the story, it is not the only one to have this policy, and it is really just a reflection of Australia’s intolerance for open same-sex relationships. How many times have people (yes, even ones I’m friends with) expressed disgust whenever two males kiss, either in a movie or in real life?

There is one Australian politician that is an advocate for gay rights. Federal Finance Minister Penny Wong is in a same-sex relationship and has recently been pushing for a gay marriage bill to be introduced. At the ALP South Australia State Convention Wong declared ‘this state was the first state in this nation to decriminalise homosexuality; why should we now resile from expressing our views, our support for the principles of equality here today?’ According to The Advertiser, this statement was given a standing ovation.

If Penny Wong is successful in her campaign for equality (make sure fingers and toes are both crossed, people) then some serious history will be made. Countries such as Spain, Canada and Argentina have allowed the issue to form into a concrete law. Yet Australia and other large parts of the world do not recognise gay marriage whilst others have severe punishments in place for homosexuality.

However, 2010 did finish off strongly on the gay rights front. On December 22nd President Obama signed the repeal to the ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy which will now allow gay men and women to openly serve in the military. The day before the United Nations General Assembly voted to denounce and criticize punishment and killings based on a person’s sexual orientation. Again, the Obama Government is much responsible for this move forward.

Marriage is (or can be) a wonderful thing which I hope one day in the far, far future I can be a part of. By that time I expect I will be competing against both heterosexual and homosexual couples for the perfect ceremony location/florist/caterer. And nothing could make me happier. Well, except for seeing Mr Katter shipped off to the mental asylum.

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