Advocates reject Abetz claim that gay marriage will lead to polygamy / Bob Katter’s “political mistake” sends warning that alarmism is a vote loser
Marriage equality advocates say there is no link between their push for same-sex marriage and the recognition of multiple partner relationships such as polygamous and polyamorous relationships.
Australian Marriage Equality national convener, Alex Greenwich said,
“Gay and lesbian Australians seek to marry to be part of the traditional institution, not to change it to something else.”
“In none of the countries where same-sex couples are allowed to marry have multiple marriages subsequently been recognised.”
“The time-honoured definition of a marriage as the exclusive union of two people has the support of Australian Marriage Equality as well as those gay and lesbian Australians who seek to marry.”
In today’s edition of the Australian newspaper Liberal Senator Eric Abetz said,
“the logical conclusion (of allowing same-sex marriages) is the complete deconstruction of the institution that is marriage”.
He said it would lead to demands for menages a trois and other combinations to gain the status of legal matrimony, he said, thus endangering “the security of the next generation”.
Mr Greenwich said Australians reject the kind of alarmism perpetrated by opponents of marriage equality like Mr Abetz, citing Bob Katter’s recent acknowledgement that his Party’s anti-gay marriage ad backfired at the Queensland state election.
“Mr Katter’s acknowledgement that the alarmist anti-gay marriage campaign ran by his Australia Party at the Queensland election cost them around 7% of the vote and 15 seats, sends a clear message to people like Senator Abetz that scaremongering will only damage the Liberal Party.”
Mr Greenwich said marriage is about love but also about respecting the fundamental understanding of marriage as a committed two-person union, as shared by the overwhelming majority of Australians.
“Nearly 200,000 Australians made contributions to the recent same-sex marriage inquiries in support of the issue, and virtually all of them want to retain marriage as a two-person union.”
For Senator Abetz statement go to: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/marriage-for-four-put-to-senate/story-fn59niix-1226361638668
For Bob Katter’s statement go to: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/anti-gay-ad-katters-big-mistake/story-fn59niix-1226361655557
For more information contact Alex Greenwich on 0421 316 335.