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BASS Coast councillors have added their voice to the call for marriage equality.
At Wednesday’s council meeting seven of the eight councillors present voted to support a motion proposed by Cr Geoff Ellis that the council should publicly support marriage equality irrespective of gender identity.
Cr Ellis said that while the Marriage Act was a federal matter, the council could add weight to the movement for equality. "’Marriage equality’ has become shorthand for acceptance,” he said. “That's important for kids, especially in rural areas like Bass Coast. They need to know that ordinary people, with some prominence in the community, believe LGBTI lives have equal worth.”
Bass Coast’s stance echoes recent moves by other Victorian councils, including Cardinia, Surf Coast, Yarra and Darebin councils, to support marriage equality.
Cr Brett Tessari, who seconded the motion, said society needed to be more accepting of difference.
Cr Michael Whelan said the Marriage Act imposed a morality from another age on people in this era. “We need to get out of the way and let people live their lives.”
Cr Bruce Kent said the word marriage was an issue for some people. “But if we agree that people should have equality, that means employment, marriage and so on.”
The sole dissenter, Cr Julian Brown, said that if the federal government held a referendum with the same wording, he would probably support it. However, he felt the local community should be consulted first.
Cr Ellis said it was fitting that Bass Coast had shown its support for equality on the International Day against Homophobia.
“May 17 marks the date that homosexuality was removed from the International Classification of Diseases of the World Health Organization in 1990. The fact that we can sit here and discuss this matter is a measure of how far we've travelled!”
The council will inform federal MPs and the Commonwealth Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission of its support for marriage equality.
The council’s move has already attracted considerable media interest with reports on ABC Gippsland and Channel 9.
Congratulations to us: While she has no personal interest in being married, Sally Conning applauds the council's support for marriage equality.
Cr Ellis said that while the Marriage Act was a federal matter, the council could add weight to the movement for equality. "’Marriage equality’ has become shorthand for acceptance,” he said. “That's important for kids, especially in rural areas like Bass Coast. They need to know that ordinary people, with some prominence in the community, believe LGBTI lives have equal worth.”
Bass Coast’s stance echoes recent moves by other Victorian councils, including Cardinia, Surf Coast, Yarra and Darebin councils, to support marriage equality.
Cr Brett Tessari, who seconded the motion, said society needed to be more accepting of difference.
Cr Michael Whelan said the Marriage Act imposed a morality from another age on people in this era. “We need to get out of the way and let people live their lives.”
Cr Bruce Kent said the word marriage was an issue for some people. “But if we agree that people should have equality, that means employment, marriage and so on.”
The sole dissenter, Cr Julian Brown, said that if the federal government held a referendum with the same wording, he would probably support it. However, he felt the local community should be consulted first.
Cr Ellis said it was fitting that Bass Coast had shown its support for equality on the International Day against Homophobia.
“May 17 marks the date that homosexuality was removed from the International Classification of Diseases of the World Health Organization in 1990. The fact that we can sit here and discuss this matter is a measure of how far we've travelled!”
The council will inform federal MPs and the Commonwealth Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission of its support for marriage equality.
The council’s move has already attracted considerable media interest with reports on ABC Gippsland and Channel 9.
Congratulations to us: While she has no personal interest in being married, Sally Conning applauds the council's support for marriage equality.
This is not Council business! You do not have a mandate to make such a decision.
Rob, a mandate is a command or authorization to act in a particular way on a pubic issue given by the electorate to its representative.
I do not remember any of the council nominees stating marriage equality as one of their platforms or agenda items. They therefore do not have a mandate. We, the ratepayers, did not vote for them because they supported same sex marriage.
Do not confuse this issue. I am talking about the appropriateness of the Council getting into this issue.
It is absolutely appropriate that the Bass Coast Shire should treat all of its employees and ratepayers equally and with respect regardless of their sexual orientation. I would be appalled if they did not. That is not the point.
The Council's role is not to identify or promote a moral, ethical or religious point of view, although we do expect them to behave morally and ethically.
Jews, Muslims, Christians and many others in this community will be offended by this unsolicited and totally unnecessary venture into "political correct advocacy".
The Council has a great deal to do in the areas that are the responsibility of the Shire before they have the luxury of time to philosophize about the rights of men to marry men or women, women.
I have quite a few homosexual and lesbian friends whom I love dearly. Loved one of them having a commitment ceremony. Happy for them to have a civil marriage.
Just do not try to make the people with a religious commitment and strong belief comply with the state's acceptance of a new law.
For those whose religion forbids homosexuality the right to refuse to marry must be preserved.
Does the council get things right NO.....
So ask for the ratepayers opinion before you think you know what we want....Get our views...or is that to hard to do
In love, the two plan
a long life together
But marriage plans rest
with a prime minister, his
party and maybe a plebiscite
the result of which colleagues
might or might not
respect.
As formally outlined in a dot point proclamation and agglutinated here – “we believe our elected leaders have a responsibility to protect the rights of all citizens, the current law needs to change and that is it about human rights and respect, celebrating diversity and inclusion”.
Strategic justification was easy – as part of the healthy communities objective, the aim was to foster wellness in a supportive, inclusive, healthy and active community. The debate was insightful, personal, respectful and the motion was carried six to one, translating to 85 per cent.
The current council’s vote of seven for, one absent and one abstaining, the percentage three years on, is open to interpretation. With the plethora of national polls in the public realm ranging from 64-70 per cent support for marriage equality, with the standout being our inclusively minded and socially responsible young people (18-24) at 81%, it seems support is increasing with time, as you would expect, our elected representatives are quite representative of the community they serve and a change to the Act is hopefully imminent.
Jordan Crugnale, Bass Coast Shire councillor 2012-16
Roma non è stata costruita in un giorno
Hear Hear
Thanks for reminding about this article and the homophobic commentary from some. LOL.