The election campaign is heating up to be an interesting one, with the underdog of equal rights for the GLBTIQ community hiding in the shadows of the election promises. As the major parties squabble over winning the votes of the ordinary white Australians. They are forgetting the minority groups who can break or make the government. The biggest problem for these 2 major parties is that the horse has already bolted with regards to their opinions of same sex marriage.
I have been talking to a number of people about the voting process of voting the Greens. They seem to be confused with the Greens giving their preference votes to Labour. However by you voting for the Greens will give them more power in the Senate, where it is the most important place in the government as it is the place where the bills and legalisations are passed, and if we have more Greens candidates in the senate, then the bill for same sex marriage will be passed. Julia does not have the final say as most people think.
It is also a great time to attend the same sex marriage rallies throughout Australia on Saturday 14th August, a week before the elections, if we can make an impact on the people of Australia by campaigning hard on the day and during the week, people will go to the polls with that in the back of their minds.
Countries all over the world are legalising same sex marriage at a great rate, and it won't be long that Australia will have to legalise same sex marriage. To most people same sex marriage to them is about the right to get married in a church, it goes deeper then that, it is about equal rights, for all, regardless of gender. I was gobsmacked that the current Marriage act was dated 1961, that is 49 years ago, we have come a long way since then. It is time for the marriage act to be updated.
Showing posts with label Same sex Marriage. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Same sex Marriage. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Same Sex Marriage and Children
I have had an interesting week this last week or so about same sex marriage and children in gay families.
I was never really a big fan of same sex marriage, when I was a single gay dad. It never appealed to me as why the GLBTIQ community were fighting for equal rights and same sex marriage. I was happy to just be a gay dad, and to provide the best for my children. I was going about my everyday life as best as it could be. BUT, now that has all changed. I am in a loving relationship with an amazing person who adores my children as his own.
He took me to my first political rally, which was the same sex rally in Melbourne earlier this year. I was amazed of the turn out the different diverse of people there supporting same sex marriage. This was a major turning point for me as a founder of GLOCKIDS and Coming Out Australia . It got me thinking about me own relationship with my partner and my children. This is what family is about, showing the commitment to each other that love is all around and as gays, lesbians, bisexual and transgender or any other identity that identifies us in the GLBTIQ community. I now what to be able to marry my partner and have the same equal rights I had when I was previously married as a heterosexual person. I have since attended the Same Sex Marriage rally in Ballarat and have taken a active stand against homophobia and the support of Same Sex Marriage.
The other day in the car, one of my children asked if my partner was step dad to him, he said that it was up to my son to call him what ever he wanted. That blow me away as we have never talked to my children about the step dad thing or same sex marriage, but it got me thinking that this is the generation we need to educate about same sex marriage and the different types of families that are out there, and it is ok to have these kinds of families as long as they are in a loving environment.
I heard on the radio that both Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott at a Christian conference, advised the audience that they both do not support same sex marriage. That just goes to show that we have a long battle on our hands and we need to get out there and fight for it.
I was never really a big fan of same sex marriage, when I was a single gay dad. It never appealed to me as why the GLBTIQ community were fighting for equal rights and same sex marriage. I was happy to just be a gay dad, and to provide the best for my children. I was going about my everyday life as best as it could be. BUT, now that has all changed. I am in a loving relationship with an amazing person who adores my children as his own.
He took me to my first political rally, which was the same sex rally in Melbourne earlier this year. I was amazed of the turn out the different diverse of people there supporting same sex marriage. This was a major turning point for me as a founder of GLOCKIDS and Coming Out Australia . It got me thinking about me own relationship with my partner and my children. This is what family is about, showing the commitment to each other that love is all around and as gays, lesbians, bisexual and transgender or any other identity that identifies us in the GLBTIQ community. I now what to be able to marry my partner and have the same equal rights I had when I was previously married as a heterosexual person. I have since attended the Same Sex Marriage rally in Ballarat and have taken a active stand against homophobia and the support of Same Sex Marriage.
The other day in the car, one of my children asked if my partner was step dad to him, he said that it was up to my son to call him what ever he wanted. That blow me away as we have never talked to my children about the step dad thing or same sex marriage, but it got me thinking that this is the generation we need to educate about same sex marriage and the different types of families that are out there, and it is ok to have these kinds of families as long as they are in a loving environment.
I heard on the radio that both Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott at a Christian conference, advised the audience that they both do not support same sex marriage. That just goes to show that we have a long battle on our hands and we need to get out there and fight for it.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Rural Town Homophobia and Mentality
Hello every one,
Hope you all had a wonderful weekend.
This week I am going to write about homophobia in rural towns. This weekend my partner and I went to Ballarat to support the same sex marriage rally on Sunday. We travelled up on the Saturday evening, after my extensive Q & A Mentor training. We settled nicely into our motel room before setting out for dinner.
We went to the main street to check out the restaurants, we picked one from driving past, as it seemed to be a nice place to go, WRONG.... As we approached it, it seemed to filled with the typical rural town Aussie families. It would have been an interesting conversation for all there to see 2 openly gay guys have dinner in their restaurant. So we choose to eat elsewhere. We picked a nice Greek Restaurant, which was perfect, it was quiet and the meals were delicious.
The next day, My Partner and I made our way to the meeting place for the rally... There were not as many as you would expect to see, say at Melbourne, but the turnout was a great small support group. So we headed off on the mission to be vocal about the fight for equal rights. We did not have any police escort (was this because, we are seen as a small minority group, who is out there to make a nuisance and to be seen as wasting police resources). We trodden along the footpaths into the main street, past shops and restaurants, with people trying to work out as to what was happening in their small quiet sleepy town. Some people waved and smiled and were happy to take the flyers we were handing out, some were absolute shock horror, as if we are diseased ridden venoms, trying their best to ignore us and go about their lives as we were not there. These are the people we need to push with, being in their faces, being out and loud, so they can hear us, and for them to know we are not going away.
It made me appreciate the comfort I have living in Melbourne and to be openly affectionate with my partner in public. But to try that in a rural town , is asking for trouble. It is easier for me to remove myself from that as I don't live there. I really do feel for the GLBTIQ community of the rural towns, that have no support or resources, as I grew up in a town with the similar mentality. I think it is time that the GLBTIQ community of the big smoke, get out there amongst the rural community and help fight homophobia. I will be making it my aim to help change that, by becoming more involved with theses communities, through my organisations such as Glockids and Coming Out Australia.
Hope you all had a wonderful weekend.
This week I am going to write about homophobia in rural towns. This weekend my partner and I went to Ballarat to support the same sex marriage rally on Sunday. We travelled up on the Saturday evening, after my extensive Q & A Mentor training. We settled nicely into our motel room before setting out for dinner.
We went to the main street to check out the restaurants, we picked one from driving past, as it seemed to be a nice place to go, WRONG.... As we approached it, it seemed to filled with the typical rural town Aussie families. It would have been an interesting conversation for all there to see 2 openly gay guys have dinner in their restaurant. So we choose to eat elsewhere. We picked a nice Greek Restaurant, which was perfect, it was quiet and the meals were delicious.
The next day, My Partner and I made our way to the meeting place for the rally... There were not as many as you would expect to see, say at Melbourne, but the turnout was a great small support group. So we headed off on the mission to be vocal about the fight for equal rights. We did not have any police escort (was this because, we are seen as a small minority group, who is out there to make a nuisance and to be seen as wasting police resources). We trodden along the footpaths into the main street, past shops and restaurants, with people trying to work out as to what was happening in their small quiet sleepy town. Some people waved and smiled and were happy to take the flyers we were handing out, some were absolute shock horror, as if we are diseased ridden venoms, trying their best to ignore us and go about their lives as we were not there. These are the people we need to push with, being in their faces, being out and loud, so they can hear us, and for them to know we are not going away.
It made me appreciate the comfort I have living in Melbourne and to be openly affectionate with my partner in public. But to try that in a rural town , is asking for trouble. It is easier for me to remove myself from that as I don't live there. I really do feel for the GLBTIQ community of the rural towns, that have no support or resources, as I grew up in a town with the similar mentality. I think it is time that the GLBTIQ community of the big smoke, get out there amongst the rural community and help fight homophobia. I will be making it my aim to help change that, by becoming more involved with theses communities, through my organisations such as Glockids and Coming Out Australia.
I applaud Koby Drake for organising the Ballarat Same Sex Marriage Rally, as for a young man, who has been exposed to the homophobia and small town mentality of the ignorance people to make a stand for what he believes is his right and the right for other people in the rural GLBTIQ community, is a huge effort and should not be sneezed at. He is a perfect example of what the youth of the GBLTIQ community should be doing to make a difference for their generation and future generations to come. To fight homophobia, we have to make a visual presence and be heard. No matter how small the protests are or how they start, it is the continual support and drive is what will make the difference. We may not be able to change the attitudes of the older generation, but we can certainly make a change to the attitudes of the younger generation.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Coming out and Children
This week has been an interesting week for us all in the GLBTIQ community. With same sex marriage rallies through out Australia fighting for the right of equal love and status, Jason Akermanis telling us to stay in the closet and the story of NSW minister David Campbell being filmed leaving a gay sauna.
I attended the same sex rally in Melbourne and it was my first of such event. At first I was unsure of what I would be confronted with, but when I got there I was thrilled to see the diversity of people there gay, straight, black,white, old and young.A huge thank you must go the organisers, as without them these events would not be possible, and to have Ian Mckellen as a guest speaker was the icing on the cake. We need to keep fighting for the right of equality. It was great to see mums and dads with children waving the rainbow flag. I had wished that I had dragged my own children along to see that GLBTIQ community is no different to any other community in Australia. I will make sure that they will be dragged to the next, even if they are kicking and screaming. (JOKE). They will love it, as much as I will by showing off my rainbow family to the world. I think it is important for children to see the world through their parents eyes sometimes and get a feeling of the community they belong to. My children have had some of exposure to the gay community, but mainly through staying at home with me and my partner on the alternate weekends. We are a normal family in the sense that the kids get to go the park, movies and play with family and Friends of ours. We tend to try and work out when is the best time to tell me or show them the other world. I personally believe that the time is when we adults are comfortable with ourselves to be in the community and to be a part of it. I have been in the community for awhile, and now my children are old enough to understand the difference between living mum's straight house and dad's gay house, it is time to let them have freedom in the gay community and to be welcomed into it.
Jason Akermanis has really put a damper of the buzz I was feeling after the rally this week, with his comments regarding gay AFL players coming out. I guess we sometimes need to be brought back to reality that homophobia is still present in the community and at a high level. I have spoken to a number of people about this and some have defended Jason's comment, saying that he is not homophobic, he is just making a point as a columnist. If he was making these comments as a columnist he surely would not make comments advising gay players to stay in the closet because it makes other feel uncomfortable, He should have made comments about supporting the coming out and getting the ones who are uncomfortable to talk about it. I think Jason was way off the mark, and he know he would get the reaction he did, as this is about him and not the gay community in general. I hope that this article and Jason's comments does stop anyone from coming out when they are ready.
On this point, the story of David Campbell. This highlights the world we live in. The media can be your best Friend and your worst enemy. I feel for David, as one who has lived a double life, trying to do the best for your family and trying to be who you should be. When you past that point of denial and trying to lead a double, you question yourself everyday as to who you really are, you are always looking for that identity status. You love your family because they give you a sense of structure in the eyes of everyone around, but deep down you are lost of structure, as you know what you are doing is wrong to yourself. This is not about any other person but yourself. It was David's choice to live his life like this and not for the media to expose it. I have read many comments in the media about David's situation and to hear that Channel 7 used the excuse that it was the public's right to know is wrong. This was a case of out to get dirt on him. Sexuality had nothing to do with his role in the government, and that the fact they said it was because he used a government to go to a sauna, is wrong. What about all the other ministers who have used their cars for things that their should not have, bet you won't hear about a minister using a car to go to church. no, it is because going to church is a good thing. The government is ruled by 2 things money and religion (banks and churches). Now the damage is done and David now has to start all over again to find his true self and inner strength to be able to move on from this as does his family. There are so many people in the situation and they just don't know what to do. They see it easier to stay in the situation they are in because they fear of hurting the ones that they love, by denying their own feelings for self.
Glockids - is here to help people in this situation and to help them find their true self, whether it is to stay, or to move on, it is the individuals choice not anybody elses, including the media.
I attended the same sex rally in Melbourne and it was my first of such event. At first I was unsure of what I would be confronted with, but when I got there I was thrilled to see the diversity of people there gay, straight, black,white, old and young.A huge thank you must go the organisers, as without them these events would not be possible, and to have Ian Mckellen as a guest speaker was the icing on the cake. We need to keep fighting for the right of equality. It was great to see mums and dads with children waving the rainbow flag. I had wished that I had dragged my own children along to see that GLBTIQ community is no different to any other community in Australia. I will make sure that they will be dragged to the next, even if they are kicking and screaming. (JOKE). They will love it, as much as I will by showing off my rainbow family to the world. I think it is important for children to see the world through their parents eyes sometimes and get a feeling of the community they belong to. My children have had some of exposure to the gay community, but mainly through staying at home with me and my partner on the alternate weekends. We are a normal family in the sense that the kids get to go the park, movies and play with family and Friends of ours. We tend to try and work out when is the best time to tell me or show them the other world. I personally believe that the time is when we adults are comfortable with ourselves to be in the community and to be a part of it. I have been in the community for awhile, and now my children are old enough to understand the difference between living mum's straight house and dad's gay house, it is time to let them have freedom in the gay community and to be welcomed into it.
Jason Akermanis has really put a damper of the buzz I was feeling after the rally this week, with his comments regarding gay AFL players coming out. I guess we sometimes need to be brought back to reality that homophobia is still present in the community and at a high level. I have spoken to a number of people about this and some have defended Jason's comment, saying that he is not homophobic, he is just making a point as a columnist. If he was making these comments as a columnist he surely would not make comments advising gay players to stay in the closet because it makes other feel uncomfortable, He should have made comments about supporting the coming out and getting the ones who are uncomfortable to talk about it. I think Jason was way off the mark, and he know he would get the reaction he did, as this is about him and not the gay community in general. I hope that this article and Jason's comments does stop anyone from coming out when they are ready.
On this point, the story of David Campbell. This highlights the world we live in. The media can be your best Friend and your worst enemy. I feel for David, as one who has lived a double life, trying to do the best for your family and trying to be who you should be. When you past that point of denial and trying to lead a double, you question yourself everyday as to who you really are, you are always looking for that identity status. You love your family because they give you a sense of structure in the eyes of everyone around, but deep down you are lost of structure, as you know what you are doing is wrong to yourself. This is not about any other person but yourself. It was David's choice to live his life like this and not for the media to expose it. I have read many comments in the media about David's situation and to hear that Channel 7 used the excuse that it was the public's right to know is wrong. This was a case of out to get dirt on him. Sexuality had nothing to do with his role in the government, and that the fact they said it was because he used a government to go to a sauna, is wrong. What about all the other ministers who have used their cars for things that their should not have, bet you won't hear about a minister using a car to go to church. no, it is because going to church is a good thing. The government is ruled by 2 things money and religion (banks and churches). Now the damage is done and David now has to start all over again to find his true self and inner strength to be able to move on from this as does his family. There are so many people in the situation and they just don't know what to do. They see it easier to stay in the situation they are in because they fear of hurting the ones that they love, by denying their own feelings for self.
Glockids - is here to help people in this situation and to help them find their true self, whether it is to stay, or to move on, it is the individuals choice not anybody elses, including the media.
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