Marriage equality advocates have praised US President Barack Obama for taking his support for marriage equality further by telling the US daytime television show, The View (broadcast in Australia today), that civil unions are “not sufficient” (Report here). In response, advocates have called on federal politicians in Australia to accept nothing less than full marriage equality.
President Obama told The View that he had long-supported civil unions but has since changed his mind. On Wednesday last week President Obama declared his personal support for marriage equality, and he told a fundraiser in New York on Monday that the reform would “strengthen families”. (Report here)
Rodney Croome, campaign director of Australian Marriage Equality, said:
“By listening to the everyday experiences of gay and lesbian people, Barack Obama has come to understand that civil unions are not full equality.”
“By formally ascribing a second-class status to same-sex relationships, an Australian national civil union scheme would entrench discrimination rather than eliminate it.”
“The President’s comments send a strong message to Australian federal politicians that the debate before them is about marriage equality and nothing less. We call on all federal MPs and senators to rule out civil unions as a substitute for marriage equality.”
The most recent opinion poll shows that 62% of Australians support marriage equality. (Report here)
For more information contact Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668.