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Gay rights - a Liberal issue

By Richard Kings - posted Tuesday, 13 December 2005


The LGBTI community stands alone now, and must refocus on influencing those who would be compassionate or tolerant. The LGBTI community must reassess its priorities on its level of representation in political forums, the churches and policy centres.

The LGBTI community must reach out to the more liberal elements of our society, working for a future based on traditional Liberal beliefs espoused by the party and now generally accepted by the population. Relationships, dialogue and membership of these groups will forge a new tolerant understanding. LGBTI groups should seek equal representation among their ranks and participate in their affairs, thus showing sexuality is irrelevant to full and active citizenship in our nation.

By gaining respect through active representation as equals among community ranks, LGTBI people can influence and participate fully in policy formulation and implementation. Whether one favours the gay marriage is irrelevant. The fact is the amendment was discriminatory, and intended to exclude. Its repeal can only be achieved by having the numbers where they count - in Federal Parliament.

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Convincing Liberal voters to support gay issues is a legitimate aim. The first priority must be to assist Liberal voters to consider what it means to be liberal in a modern world and to influence policy within the party. Recall a core Liberal belief: “today’s dogma as being tomorrow’s error, ... in consequence, the interests of all legitimate minorities must be protected.”

This is the key to the hearts and minds of Liberals who prize virtue, wisdom and tolerance over privilege, position or wealth, who are open-minded and not influenced by the sectional or selfish interests of churches, religion or fanatical fundamentalism, to stand up for their convictions. They must show that, under a true conservative banner, every human being has intrinsic worth, and must be loved and protected as one of God's creations. God created all humans, hetero, homo, metro, bi and every other.

The real test of merit is to fully apply the virtues of compassion and preservation of all people's rights to dignity, life, freedom and liberty and the underlying spirit of conservatism: to preserve, conserve or protect.

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Article edited by Virginia Tressider.
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About the Author

Richard Kings is Chairman of the British Conservative Party’s ‘Conservatives Abroad’ - Australia Branch and also a member of the State Council of the Victorian Division of the Liberal Party of Australia.

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

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