As the Senate committee examining the government’s proposed marriage bill winds up their public hearings proponents of both sides of the debate have declared the bill in unacceptable in its current form.
Advocates for LGBTI equality say they cannot accept marriage equality legislation that would allow same-sex couples to be singled out for refusal of service.
On the other hand many of the groups who spoke at the three days of public hearings have argued that the bill does not contain adequate provisions for religious freedom, arguing that the right to discriminate against LGBT people who be expanded to all people of faith.
A Senate committee is currently considering a same-sex marriage bill proposed by Attorney-General, George Brandis, that allows civil celebrants and faith-based commercial businesses to turn away same-sex couples.
Appearing before the Inquiry yesterday, Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, just.equal and the NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby refused to be drawn by senators seeking to find a compromise on refusal of service.
Speaking on behalf of just.equal, Rodney Croome said there was no sense in bringing in a law designed to remove discrimination by simultaneously creating a path for discrimination.
“One of the chief reasons for allowing same-sex couples to marry is to remove stigma and inequality against same-sex relationships. We can’t accept legislation that perpetuates that stigma and inequality in a new form.” Croome said.
PFLAG, Shelley Argent said the hearings had given the LGBTO community and their families an opportunity to clearly state that there was never going to be a compromise on discrimination.
“This panel needs to understand that we, as LGBTI sons and daughters and the parents we are representing here today, are 100 per cent adamant that the proposed amendments put forth by George Brandis will not be supported by us ever. Marriage equality is just that. It does not come with exclusions and amendments.” Argent said.
Speaking at the Inquiry Dr Sharon Dane outlined an LGBTI community survey she helped design and conduct on behalf of just.equal and PFLAG.
She noted that the survey of over 6000 LGBTI respondents found very high opposition to the proposals to allow refusal of service (over 90%).
Critically, that opposition did not drop significantly when respondents were asked if they would accept the proposals in return for being allowed to marry.
“Participants were asked the extent to which they agreed or disagreed with such proposals if it meant the passage of same-sex marriage legislation in this term of government. Even under these conditions the opposition remained high for all scenarios, with a drop of only two to three per cent.”, Dr Dane said.
The NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby presented the results of a survey they conducted among LGBTI people in NSW that found similar opposition to proposals to allow refusal of service.
Greens Senator Janet Rice (pictured) said while the Inquiry had shown significant flaws in the governments proposed legislation she was still confident that marriage equality could become a reality in the current term of parliament.
“This Inquiry is another step in the journey towards marriage equality,” the Greens LGBTIQ spokesperson said.
“We’ve heard from so many people and organisations that exemptions aren’t needed to protect religious freedoms and would entrench discrimination.
“We would not allow conscientious objections for celebrants based on age or race, and we should not allow objections for gender or sexuality.
Senator Rice said the discussion had shown how unworkable the proposed exemptions would be.
“It is clear that exemptions for services would be unwarranted and unworkable.
“With some of the nonsense we’ve heard from those opposed to equality, thank goodness they’ve been stopped from having a megaphone with a plebiscite.
“The government’s Bill is flawed, but this process has enabled the productive public discussion necessary to move ahead and achieve marriage equality in this Parliament.”
While many religious organisations appeared to voice their support for marriage equality, there are also many outspoken groups who have argued against the introduction of marriage equality, putting forth proposals suggesting that the power to refuse service to LGBT people would need to be more widespread.
Hearings have now closed and the Senate inquiry is expected to report next month.
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