Jeff Kennett applauded for injecting humanity into marriage equality debate / Pressure increases on Abbott to allow conscience vote
Marriage equality advocates have praised former Victorian Liberal Premier, Jeff Kennett, for showing the issue is about people not politics, and have renewed their call for a Coalition conscience vote on the issue.
In an article in today’s Herald Sun, Mr Kennett says the experiences of everyday people have convinced him to embrace marriage equality (report here)
Rodney Croome, campaign director of Australian Marriage Equality, said,
“Mr Kennett’s heartfelt plea to Australians to support marriage equality is a reminder this issue is not about about ‘left vs. right’ or ‘gay vs. straight’, but about what we all share as human beings.”
“Mr Kennett supports marriage equality for reasons that will resonate with many of his Coalition colleagues, so we renew our call on Tony Abbott to allow a conscience vote on the issue.”
Mr Kennett – who is the founding chairman of national depression initiative, beyondblue – said that the impact of marriage discrimination on the mental health of gay and lesbian Australians was a key factor in his change of heart.
“Social science research shows excluding same-sex couples from marriage has a significant impact on the mental health of same-sex attracted people, particularly young people, and Mr Kennett is right to bring this to public attention“, Mr Croome said.
Only a short time ago, Mr Kennett argued that same-sex couples should not be allowed to marry because, he claimed, it would have negative consequences for children.
“If Mr Kennett can have such a rapid personal transformation in attitudes towards marriage equality by listening to the everyday experiences of gay and lesbian Australians, we are still hopeful Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott can have a similar change of heart.”
A Galaxy poll last year found that 76% of Coalition voters want Tony Abbott to grant his party a conscience vote on same-sex marriage. (link here)
For more information contact Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668.