Gay marriage bill 'personal' for senator

17 Sep 2012, 7:38 pm   -   Source: AAP
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Senator Louise Pratt has told the Senate the law as it stands discriminates against her relationship and those of many other Australians. (AAP)

Senator Louise Pratt has told the Senate the law as it stands discriminates against her relationship and those of many other Australians. (AAP)

A Labor senator who has a transgender partner says it's not right that the laws of Australia discriminate against same-sex marriage.

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The same-sex marriage debate has a personal dimension for Labor Senator Louise Pratt, who has a transgender partner.

An emotional Senator Pratt has told the Senate the law as it stands discriminates against her relationship and those of many other Australians.

"I am one of those hundreds of thousands of Australian citizens who knows that the laws of our nation hold our capacity for love and for commitment to be lesser because of the gender of our partner," she said on Monday.

"One of hundreds of thousands of Australian citizens who knows that the laws of our nation say we are less deserving of rights, respect and recognition.

"We know that those ideas are not true and that the laws that reinforce them are not right.

"This debate has a personal impact for me."

Debate on the Labor and Greens-sponsored bill that would legalise same-sex marriage was interrupted in the Senate on Monday when the house turned its attention to legislation banning super trawlers from fishing in Australian waters.

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said change was inevitable and might occur sooner if Prime Minister Julia Gillard provided greater leadership.

"It is part of our nature to give people a fair go, to not get hung up on the differences between us," she said.

Opposition legal affairs spokesman George Brandis said the opposition would not support the bill.

"All of a sudden, within the last few years, this institution so derided by you has been rediscovered by you as the test of whether or not one cares about the issue of sexuality discrimination," he said.

Veteran Nationals Senator Ron Boswell said families with two mothers and two fathers could not properly raise children.

"Who takes the boy to football? ... How does he go camping and fishing?

"What about a young girl ... is it fair to say to her you don't have a mother to take you shopping?"

Senator Boswell warned that many parents would object to children being taught about gay marriage in schools if it was legalised.

Debate on the marriage equality bill, which is identical to one in the lower house, is expected to resume on Tuesday.

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Your Comments

Homosexual marriage.

oncewas - from bribie island, 8 months ago

Senator Ron, Now I know what they are talking about when they refer to dinosaurs in the LNP. Go to a football match and see how many mums are there. Surely they are not all lesbians. Lots of homosexual guys make great shopping guides, they have a flair for fashion. My beloved wife is a far better camper than me, though I catch bigger fish. You are beyond belief. Ron.You will not have your gender identity changed by allowing same gender marriage.

Miss

BG - from Brisbane, 8 months ago

Forget gay marriage, ban divorce! The marriage act says " 'marriage' means the union of a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life." So if one half of that sentence is so damned important, the other half should be too!

Miss

BG - from Brisbane, 8 months ago

Bob really? It's not a movement, these are people. You don't have to agree with them, that's the wonderful thing about living in a democratic society, but nor should anyone stop them from marrying each other. Disagreeing with law is also what makes our society great, so please go right ahead! It's not hompohobic, you just don't agree. So don't marry a gay person. Otherwise what, really, does it have to do with you?

Re: Bob Battye

Stewart - from Melbourne, 8 months ago

Bob, What a load of nonsense. How are they being silenced for standing against the "Gay mvement". Free speech doesn't imply you ought to be protected from criticism. Senator Boswell has a platform to voice his views, as did Jim Wallace. Just because people disagree with you doesn't mean you're being "brought before the courts on anti (?) homophobic charges". Come up with a good argument and be respectful and you may not have these problems

The Law should discriminate

peterj - from Brisbane, 8 months ago

As it stands, the law also discriminates against polygamists, those would like to marry multiple spouses. I am sure some Muslim men would want to this. It also discriminates against incest, people who want to marry their siblings, uncles and aunts etc. Being discriminatory is not necessarily a bad thing, and simply wanting social recognition of a relationship or loving somebody does not mean marriage. It is appropriate we keep the age old definition of marriage.

Mr.

Bob Battye - from Greensborough Melbourne, 8 months ago

I only have but one Question,That being.. If the proposal becomes law will that mean that If any body disagrees with the law and makes comment on same that he /she could be brought before the courts on anti homophobic charges ?, thus placing free speach under threat. At the moment it appears a person can have an opinion, but if it does not agree with the Gay movement then one is anti gay ,at least in their minds.As it evenly balanced comments are not accepted by the gays. It all one way,theirs

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