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Gay marriage - the moral obligation of our time

By James Mangisi - posted Tuesday, 23 November 2010


Abraham Lincoln freed black Americans from slavery and in doing so ushered in a new age of equality and freedom. But would President Lincoln have done so if they had the technology to poll and discovered that only 49 per cent of Americans supported it? If it happened in our world today, would he have the necessary political capital? I’m not so sure.

Living in a free democratic society, we are often quick to assume that the highest virtue in Australian politics is consensus. Certainly, Julia Gillard thought so when she opted to build consensus through her community forums for climate change. In times of conflict or disagreement, our first instinct is to put things to a vote. And this is the legacy of our over-emphasis on democracy. When democracy is the highest virtue, it can overshadow liberty and freedom.

Around the country, as many states enter an election period, we are seeing a stronger push towards legalising same-sex marriage. A push which is being ignored at the federal level and thwarted at the state.

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As a straight man, many of my friends have come to ask me - “Why do you care about gay marriage? Why is it important to you?” Many of them (they are straight as far as I know) can’t see how gay marriage affects anyone but gay people. However, even though they can’t see it - gay marriage affects everyone.

During the 20th century we saw many civil rights struggles: from the end of segregation in the US, to the installation of women as social, economic, and political equals. After significant political pressure, Nelson Mandela was freed and apartheid ended in South Africa.

Would any of these causes have been less just or honourable if they only carried minority support? Would they have been any less morally righteous? In these cases, no intellectually serious person could say yes. And yet despite the majority of Australians supporting the legalisation of gay marriage, our whole political discourse panders to the needs of swing-seat politicians who look after their jobs first, and the freedom of all Australians last. Democracy before freedom.

This unfortunate state of affairs is not uncommon in the developed world. In California, efforts to stop gay marriage and make it illegal were put to a referendum in “prop 8”, which went on to succeed and be passed. However, in an exquisite moment of justice, “prop 8” was overturned at trial by Chief US District Judge Vaughn Walker saying:

The evidence shows that, by every available metric, opposite-sex couples are not better than their same-sex counterparts; instead, as partners, parents and citizens, opposite-sex couples and same-sex couples are equal.

Judge Walker added:

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In the absence of a rational basis, … the belief that same-sex couples simply are not as good as opposite-sex couples.

And finally:

A private moral view that same-sex couples are inferior to opposite-sex couples is not a proper basis for legislation.

This was an occasion where despite the mob voting for the denigration and discrimination of 10 per cent of the population, authorities put freedom first. Blast democracy if it undermines the integrity of our freedom! In Australia, we are nothing if we are not free, first and foremost, and where democracy threatens this, it too must be set aside in aid of a higher authority. This is precisely why I care about gay marriage. As a proud Australian, I am nothing if I am not free. And as Australians, WE are nothing if WE ALL are not free.

At home, there are two obstacles blocking the civil rights of same-sex couples. To those that would seek to stop gay marriage, like Tony Abbott and his mates in the Catholic Church, it’s time to say that we will no longer be lectured by a pack of superstitious virgins. Any notions of Catholic morality died with the revelation that women who attempt to become priests face excommunication, but male priests who rape and torture children do not. Thinkers of this kind have no place in the Australian moral discourse. So, Tony Abbott can keep his arbitrary moral values (and I use the term “moral” in its loosest possible sense) to himself.

The second obstacle is in the form of our “dear leader” Julia Gillard, who, like many Australians, has decided that doing nothing is the path to remaining neutral - the “I’m not gay, so it’s not my problem” lot. These people need to know that doing nothing is itself a decisive and deliberate course of action.

To again pick an example from the rather low hanging fruit of the Catholic Church, they too sat on the sidelines and did nothing to stop the spread of anti-Semitism and the holocaust.

To do nothing is a choice, and it’s a choice that is responsible for the suffering and misery of our gay brothers and sisters, 2.3 million of them (statistically speaking).

The time for action is now. The political capital is there, the majority of Australians want “all Australians” to be free to marry someone of their choosing. Last Saturday we stood together in Melbourne and Brisbane. This weekend, (November 27, 2010) Sydney and Adelaide will rally for same-sex marriage. Join us at the march on Saturday - bring your friends, bring your family, bring the dog. Not for the sake of Gay Australians only, but for the sake of all Australians.

And on November 27, if you live in Victoria, vote for the party or candidate who will uphold Australia’s great tradition. A country where freedom reigns supreme.

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About the Author

James ‘U Mangisi is a social and environmental scientist. As an environmentalist, ethicist and atheist, he wishes to promote two ideals in society - sustainability and secularism. See his blog at Ask an Atheist.

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Creative Commons LicenseThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

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