LGBTI GROUPS JOINT STATEMENT ON THE PLEBISCITE

As organisations and leaders of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) communities, we call on the Australian Parliament to ensure that every Australian is able to marry the person they love, in the country they cherish.

Making a solemn commitment to build a secure future with your partner, in front of your family and friends, is something that should be publicly celebrated. Declaring your commitment to look after your partner in sickness and health both cements your relationship through the rough times and shares your joys in the good times.

We make this call not only on behalf of LGBTI communities and their families who have been waiting for over a decade, but importantly to ensure future generations of LGBTI Australians can grow up on equal footing with their peers.

Two thirds of the Australian people, a majority of both houses of parliament and leaders of all major parties support marriage equality. We have never had so much support for achieving this small step towards every Australian having the same opportunities as their neighbour.

Our shared goal is simple – we want marriage equality as soon as possible at the lowest cost. The most efficient and effective way of achieving marriage equality is a vote in Parliament, a power confirmed by the High Court in 2013.

Marriage equality is about people, not politics. It is about the grandma who wants to see her granddaughter married in her lifetime, the parents who want to walk their children down the aisle, the children who wish to see their parents marry, and the many ageing couples who have endured inequality throughout their lives.

Our relationships, future happiness and security should not be used for political point-scoring.

We call on our political leaders to put aside partisanship and come together to find an achievable pathway for marriage equality, this term.

The Government proposes a plebiscite which we believe is unnecessary, costly and divisive, when the law can be changed through a straightforward vote in parliament. No Australian should have to witness a national debate on their worth or the value of their relationship. We are particularly concerned about the psychological impact on our communities caused by repeated exposure to divisive national discourse – concerns that are based on research evidence.

Our expectation has always been that should a plebiscite proceed, parliament would ensure a fair and reasonable plebiscite process that recognises the impact of this national conversation. Unfortunately, the plebiscite machinery legislation now presented by the government is neither. Indeed it is unfair, unjust and unworkable:

No government amendments to the Marriage Act have been provided as yet, nor are they guaranteed to come into effect following a successful Yes vote. It is unreasonable to expect the community and the parliament to vote on a plebiscite without first seeing the detail of what will be enacted upon a successful vote.

It is unacceptable to use $15 million of tax-payer dollars to fund the YES and NO committees, adding to the already extraordinary cost of the plebiscite. The proposal requires no truth-in-advertising test, yet will be seen as being endorsed by the Australian Government.

The Government’s bill will create an uneven playing field. Religious organisations already enjoy a range of tax benefits and concessions denied to other entities. Few LGBTI organisation have comparable tax deductibility status. Limiting tax-deductible donations to $1500 for individuals will exacerbate this unfairness.

The question is unnecessarily complex and the wording ‘same-sex’ fails to be fully inclusive of all LGBTI relationships. Media reports that the question has been crafted to improve the chances of a ‘no’ vote are troubling.

The plebiscite package provides no strategies or funding to address the considerable concern about the impact of the plebiscite on LGBTI communities, our families and friends. We have already seen reports of LGBTI Australians distressed.

Given this, we call on parliament to vote down the plebiscite machinery legislation.

Additionally, we reinforce our call that these reforms should not be delayed due to the politicking of parties in Canberra. We call on all Members of Parliament of good conscience to work together to deliver marriage equality this term.

LIST OF SIGNATORIES (as of 10 October 2016)

Acceptance Melbourne

ACON

Aleph Melbourne

Rowena Allen, (Gender & Sexuality Commissioner, Dept of Premier & Cabinet, Victoria)

Ambassadors & Bridge Builders International

Asian Australian Rainbow Alliance (AAuRA)

Australian Catholics for Equality

Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations

Australian GLBTIQ Multicultural Council

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights LGBTI Rights Subcommittee

Australian Marriage Equality

Australian Transgender Support Association Queensland

Australians for Equality

Black Rainbow

Dameyon Bonson

Brave Network Melbourne

Brisbane Gay and Lesbian Business Network

Brisbane LGBTI Action Group

Carmen Rupe Memorial Trust

Florence Chen

Karen Christie

Meg Clark

Connect for Life

Dayenu

Johann De Joodt

Anne-Marie Delahunt

Harley Dennett

Nathan Despott

DiGS Equality

Susan Ditter

Diversity Launceston

DIY Rainbow

Kate Doak

Maxine Drake

Dreamtime Divas

Suzanne Eastwood

Equal Marriage Rights Australia

Kristyana Finch

Jamie Gardiner

Dr Gávi Ansara

Geelong Pride Games

Gender Diversity Alliance South Australia

Gender Help for Parents

GetUp!

Kelly Glanney

GLOBE Melbourne

Gosford Pride Games

Christine Healy

Brendan Heck

Helem

Aram Hosie

Mandy How

Corey Irlam

Kristine Johnson

Sharon Jones

Joy 94.9

Lesbians in the Shoalhaven area

LGBTI Legal Service

LGBTI Rights Unit of the Human Rights Law Centre

Marhaba Melbourne

Marriage Equality Gilmore

Dr. Ruth McNair

Metropolitan Community Church – Melbourne

Muslims Against Homophobia

National LGBTI Health Alliance

New South Wales Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby

Northern Territory AIDS and Hepatitis Council

Lynne O’Brien

OII Australia

OutBlack

Stephen Page

PFLAG NSW

PFLAG Perth

Pride in Diversity

Queensland AIDS Council

Queer Muslims Sydney

Queer Screen

Rainbow Families

Rainbow Rights WA

Rosh Pinah: An Affirming Orthodox Jewish Network

Krishna Sandha

Sydney Gay and Lesbian Business Association

Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras

Sydney Gay Meditation Group

Transgender Equality Alliance

Transgender Victoria

Trikone

Uniting Network

Anthony Venn-Brown

Victorian AIDS Council

Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby

Veronica Wensing

Tushara Wickramariyaratne

Wear Rainbow

Annie Whitehead

Working It Out