Line, or head, in the sand?

9/2/2013

LAST Tuesday in London, the House of Commons voted 400 to 175 in favour of marriage for gays and lesbians in England and Wales. If, as expected, the House of Lords also votes in favour and the bill becomes law, Britain will become the 10th country to endorse gay marriage – 11, if you include several states of the US, including most recently New York.

In spite of the severe rebuff of more than half his own parliamentary party voting against the bill, Prime Minister and Conservative leader David Cameron called the result ”a step forward for our own country”. His coalition colleague, Deputy Prime Minister and Liberal Democrats leader Nick Clegg, described the vote as landmark, saying: ”No matter who you are and who you love, we are all equal.”

Up to a point. It depends where you are. Australia’s Federal Parliament may be half a world away from the Palace of Westminster, but as far as same-sex marriage is concerned it might as well be in a another universe. We continue to have a prime minister and opposition leader who, in rare concord and against global change and prevailing local popular opinion, are opposed to gay marriage. Last September, Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott, hostage to forces within their own ranks, begrudgingly brought on a vote in the House. Had Mr Abbott allowed a conscience vote, the result could have been different, but the bill was defeated 42 to 98, and by 26 to 41 in the Senate. This was a hollow victory of party politics over public opinion.

If, however, Ms Gillard and Mr Abbott think that this has put paid to the matter, they are wrong. The debate and the fight for equal rights for gays will continue – and, indeed, intensify, especially in an election year. The more democracies that endorse gay marriage, the more isolated and out of touch with reality Australia will become. It is time we entered the modern world.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/editorial/whistle-blown-to-save-spirit-of-sport-20130208-2e3vj.html#ixzz2LTPGZ4n6