How marriage equality was defeated in Tasmania

I predict they will do the same when other state and territory parliaments come to debate this issue. The opponents of marriage equality may be wily but they are rarely novel.

Proponents of equality need to be ready with a realistic, easy-to-understand, independent and well-endorsed assessment of what the risks are.

A motion has been tabled in the Tasmanian Upper House for an inquiry into the constitutional issues raised by state same-sex marriage laws.

If it goes ahead it will hopefully provide a foundation for this realistic assessment.

Meanwhile, I am confident the future for state same-sex marriage laws is bright.

In Tasmania, majority community support for reform, healthy public debate driven by the many brave same-sex couples and their families publicly advocating for change, the narrowness of Thursday’s defeat, and support for the principle of allowing same-sex marriages among many Upper House members, all show that we have won the marriage equality debate, even if we have lost the vote this time around.

I’m also confident others states will be encouraged by what has happened in Tasmania and will move forward with their own laws.

When they do I urge them to learn the lessons of Tasmania’s near miss.