THAT DAMN PLEBISITE

[Grazee]

I was angry to read that the same sex marriage Plebiscite was going to be held early next year. Even if it's passed being a Plebiscite doesn't make it law. What I'm concerned about is it NOT being passed. We all know the history of Australian Referendums . . . the NO vote usually wins. So does a NO vote mean that Gay Marriage will NEVER be accepted in Australia. I suspect that we , I mean we, have more to lose by this vote; even if passed it won't be legal and if rejected we will never have Gay Marriage legalized.

I don't know whether to vote YES ; vote in formal as a protest ; or just not vote at all. Anybody got some ideas??

[Cornstarch]

My PTSD is just so bad at the moment that I have to live like a monk.

I don't own a television it is that bad.

Most days I can't even read ABC News or the Sydney Morning Herald online because of the sensory overload of horror stories triggering me. I have to stick to Podcasts where I can control the content.

So what's happened?

I am on PTSD island.

[Chris_B]

It isn't pretty out there in the media at the moment on this issue.

For anyone reading, QLife is always available if you would like to speak with a LGTBI counselling service, they do phone and live web chat.

https://qlife.org.au/

[Wednesday]

Hi Grazee,

I feel your frustration. I'm not a fan of a plebiscite, you're right we don't have a good record on referendums. My recollection is that it is all how the question is written. If we have a no vote it will be used as to rationalize what ever "they" decide appropriate. I am so disappointed that Australia has deemed this the way to go, it feels like a deceitful, cop out. I know there is always so much more to any politics and the papers dont always get the story quite right, aghh!

Come on polies you can do it, be brave!

If a country like the USA with 324 million people can understand that people are people with equal rights regardless, pass legislation that forced all of its states (including the bible belt and red neck ones) to agree to gay marriage, what is our problem? We are a secular country so they cant really use the religion card.

I've worked in both state and federal government, it will all be about votes and seat margins. So if you're up to a challenge and have a fire in your belly maybe you could start a change.org petition, my guess is that it would take off (I haven't seen one as yet).

Did you read about the student who made Aldi change it's ways and stop selling caged eggs. Or what about Eddie Mabo one man that went to the high court for his people to have land rights and won. there are so many more of course. One person can make a difference.

I love your passion!

[justinok]

So this is a post I just saw on Facebook... I couldnt have said it better myself so I'm copying it. So angry right now.

"Don't worry about it ... The numbers are in your favour. It'll happen. Have faith in the Australian public to come together and do the right thing."

One night I was walking home alone in the dark. I hear someone yell "Where the f are you going dressed like a faggot?". There's four of them. I run, legitimately afraid for my life.They get a vote.

My first girlfriend was firmly in the closet. I helped her come out to her parents. They bullied her into moving to Sydney to break us up. Last I heard from her she'd been hospitalised after trying to kill herself. Her parents get a vote.

I'm sitting in a year 12 ethics class. I'm being told that Catholics don't really hate gay people, it's just that homosexuality is a sin, and those feelings need to be repressed. I know what's being said is wrong. But I didn't know how to challenge it.That teacher gets a vote.

My uncle thought the queer community of Newcastle were trying to turn him gay because he was seen taking his nephew to the movies.He gets a vote.

I'm sitting on a bus that happens to be going past Parliament House after a anti-SSM rally. A woman sits down next to me, holding a sign "God made men and women for a reason". I bring up intersex with her and she dismisses "those people" as being "abortions of Satan" .She gets a vote.

At a Safe Schools rally, some guy walking past yells at us for protecting paedos and how we're all scum.He gets a vote.

I'm hanging around civic interchange, two Mormons walk up to me. Jokingly I tell them "I'm not interested, I'm gay". I'm subjected to twenty minutes of hostility and postulating as to whether or not I truly deserve happiness. Both of them get votes.

At the pool I get mistaken for a man in the women's change room, called a tranny, a pervert. Right in front of her own children I might add. Setting a great example.Her children won't get a vote at least, but she will.

My elected representatives are planning to give 7.5 million dollars to a whole bunch of people seeking to compel a frustrated and apathetic populace to vote against my rights. For the next 5 months, I can only guess what I might come across, in the street, on TV, in newspapers, let alone online. I can't imagine it'll be escapable.

Every single person attached to that campaign will get to vote, as well as every person influenced by it.But don't worry about it ...

[Wednesday]

It looks like the plebacite is a "fizzer", thank you Labor!

[Paul]

Firstly justinok - HUGS.

I've heard a lot of people say that Australia is behind and backwards and hasn't grown up.

The people that justinok describes in his post are generally ill educated. On some social issues Australia is immature and still growing up - Our treatment of indigenous people, our treatment of LGBTIQ+ people. Two examples of where we are behind New Zealand - our closest "family" and the US, our most socially influencing source. But we're still growing up.

The relieving thing about learning and growing up is that it is not linear. The more we know the faster we grow. The people who taunt on the bus, perhaps they will learn soon. Teachers are being educated about sexuality - well, they were in most states but that's an argument for another thread (below) Safe school program, actually I will argue it. Safe schools program was recommended to stay, the government axed funding due to one sentence that was re-worded anyway. Victoria's premier (I've already asked for his hand in marriage so get in line) said "Piss off" we'll fund it ourselves! I think NSW or QLD followed suit. We're growing up.

Those who taunt and chastise are being held accountable more and more - we ARE growing up.

Unfortunately there are people who take more time to grow up than others, but luckily, the phenomenon of the more you know the more you grow is spreading understanding and empathy for GLBTIQ+ people and our plight for equal treatment in society and under the law.

So it seems as a nation we still have some growing up to do. Perhaps our system of parliament has some growing up to do as well. With Labor blocking the plebiscite this might buy us time to grow up quickly rather than have some law enacted that makes it more difficult for equality later on.

As Wednesday mentions, it just takes one to start a revolutionary change.

It's taking just one at the moment to stop a change that we need to grow up and accept. Our Prime minister is working the system cunningly to hold back growth.

I urge you to talk to or petition your federal member, start campaigns, start a change.org.

We're a modern nation with some growing up to do marriage equality WILL happen it just may take time.

Perhaps we need gay couples to occupy the streets of every city and town in Australia and be "wed" at the same time. Regular gay folks like you and I on the main street of cities and towns at exactly the same time stopping the country for a wedding of mammoth proportion.

[Kazzl]

Well said Paul xx

My very strong view is that this is not an issue for the LGBTI community to fight alone. This is a matter of human rights and there are many many straight people out there who are making their voices heard too. There are already a number of petitions on the go - google and you'll find them.

It is the right and the duty of every person who despises discrimination to be vocal about this, through words and actions. I do love your idea of a mass wedding Paul, and I offer myself as a maid of honour to anyone who'll have me.

It is looking unlikely the plebiscite bill will pass through the Senate, but if it does and we go to the polls in February, then I urge people to vote properly - no protest votes. A protest vote won't make any diffence and will lessen the yes vote, playing into the hands of the right wing nut jobs. Don't fall for that trap - making the question unpalatable and cultivating division amongst the yes voters (splitting the vote) is a well-known political ploy.

Love to and for all

Kaz

[Wednesday]

Kazzl said:

My very strong view is that this is not an issue for the LGBTI community to fight alone. This is a matter of human rights and there are many many straight people out there who are making their voices heard too.

This is my heartfelt opinion too. I am incredible frustrated by the disgusting ways some of my dear friends have been treated. Change is too slow.

I am not in favour of a vote given our referendum stats. It's not even in protest votes, it can be how the wording is skewed to change the question. Does anyone remember the referendum about Australia continuing to be royalists or become a republic? I wanted to vote for an Australian republic. While I can't recall the exact question the wording made it impossible to vote for a republic, it was not straight forward. it is also about so much more than marriage. I have more rights and I am not married than other have in long term relationships, grrr.

I need to get of my soap box and go get a cup of tea... I am so cross about this.

[Just Sara]

Wow!!! There's so many amazing posts here, I didn't know who to respond to. So I'll give my say to all and sundry.

I have a question firstly and I hope it doesn't sound ignorant, but in Feb will all Australians have to vote? In the US, they don't have to and the outcome is usually in favour of self-interested and patriotic voters. Their up-coming election will be a doozie! Trump is stirring up the masses; my opinion...he'll win.

Politics is all about speel and image, knowing your demographic and playing the game. The outcome favours the candidate who wants to win more and, do it at any cost. This might be dangerous, but the awful reality is that tactics will create the decision. Rallying our masses isn't going to count unless the Plebiscite is carried. So focus should be on 'us' joining the current game instead of Feb.

My suggestion, is that every 'yes' voter in the country regardless of gender or sexuality, could threaten to vote Green at the next Federal and State elections unless the Plebiscite is successful; not just say it, but promise and follow through. The major parties will poo their proverbial pants and have to rethink their tactics and motivation. Then concentrate on Feb afterwards; one step at a time.

We're still not getting the fact our vote does count. One person can turn into a very big hostile crowd without lifting a finger. (Except on our keyboards) Funding for an ad campaign could come from Gay Pride orgs and supportive interest groups.

The media will do whatever creates ratings. They love a good fight! It's time to stop following the 'good-guy' rules and get creative. I mean, how many individuals out there want Gay Marriage to be legal and/or off the list of issues to be dealt with by politicians? As with religion, they're only as powerful as the people who follow them. See what's happening with child abuse within religious institutions; people power! Media power!!

I vote Green anyway, not just to support this party, but to put the major parties on alert and I'm not the only one.

Anger can be a mighty sword of motivation and expression if used wisely and tactfully.

Let's go get 'em!!!!!!!!!! Take the fight to the ethereal Streets!

Dizzy xoxo