Everyone is talking about the proposed plebiscite on marriage equality penciled in for February 11 next year.
In one corner are the objectors. They say we shouldn’t be doing it because it will bring out into the light nasty homophobic hate speech. We shouldn’t do it because it is going to cost taxpayers around $175 million (plus $7.5 million for the No campaign and same for Yes) – just think of what that money could do. We shouldn’t do it because Parliament can legislate for marriage equality (it could be done and dusted by tomorrow) and we don’t need a plebiscite to get the same outcome.
In the other corners are the it’s-only-fair. They say we should do it because it is only fair to see what the country really wants (not everyone lives in inner city Sydney they are fond of saying). We should do it because, if the vote is overwhelmingly Yes, it will show how supported and loved our LGBTQI friends and family are.
All very interesting talking points you can mull over with your friends and homemade hummus at barbecues. Toss around at bedtime with your partner. Argue about over the phone with your mum.
But, at the end of the day, interesting talking points (and the very real threat of hate speech) are in a completely different ballpark than a country getting to vote Yes or No on marriage equality. No one should have the right to vote for or against a basic human right. No one.
Top Comments
Thank you for writing this, I couldn't agree more.
Can't we have a vote instead on whether to allow conservative political parties into the arena? Gosh but they set us back every time they get a run. Their captain John Howard has ducked his head up out of his hole lately to 'remind the oldies' (meaning old-fashioned) of his backward views. Let's vote instead that only progressive thinkers have any influence in this country. We just don't have time to be taking 2 steps back every 4 years.
Can't hold back the inner totalitarian any longer I see.
It's posts like this that will piss off enough people as to lose the plebiscite out of resentment towards thuggery.
Interestingly enough there is a precedent for voters backing right wing totalitarians at plebiscites
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/...
But I'm all in favour of throwing conservatives and their deviant doctrine of bigotry selfishness and convenient theocracy out of Canberra.