New Labor MP Stephen Jones rose in parliament yesterday to move an amendment to Greens MP Adam Bandt’s motion to push for a consensus on the issue of gay marriage. He went on to deliver the case on why Labor must embrace the change.
Gay rights
Will Obama change his tune on gay rights?
American gay rights advocates were encouraged by Obama’s recent comment that his attitudes towards gay marriage are “evolving.” Elspeth Reeve discusses whether this could lead to a shift in policy.
Former Bush Campaign Chief comes out of the closet
Ken Mehlman, who managed George W. Bush’s Presidential campaign in 2004, this week announced to friends and family that he is gay. Mehlman claims he privately opposed Republican attacks on same sex marriage.
How Obama’s stance on gay marriage has shifted
Obama’s officially endorses civil unions rather than marriage for same sex couples. But this timeline compiling his statements on the subject over the years suggest the President’s views have noticeably shifted.
Is Gillard homophobic or just whistling?
What reasons does Gillard have for being anti same-sex marriage? It isn’t because of links to the church, beliefs about procreation or because she opposes different types of relationships. Is she homophobic or just playing poltiics, asks W.H. Chong.
Why Family First is wrong on gay rights
Family First gives families and small business a voice in parliament. To represent the voice of families, we need to make room in the boat for all the different types of families in Australia, writes dis-endorsed candidate David Barrow.
Crikey Says: What’s the harm in gay marriage?
And so US federal judge Vaughn Walker struck down Proposition 8, the California vote that vetoed same-sex marriage. Denying homosexuals the right to marry, he effectively argues, is unconstitutional.
Banning gay marriage deemed unconstitutional
In a win for gay rights, Proposition 8 — a ban on gay marriage in California — has been overturned, after a federal judge declared “moral disapproval alone is an improper basis on which to deny rights…” A Supreme Court appeal is expected.
Lay off Penny – real change occurs slowly
Penny Wong has copped much criticism for being gay but also claiming to view marriage as a union between a man and a woman. But real reform happens gradually and she deserves respect for choosing to fight her battles within caucus, writes Adrian Phoon.
Gay double standard, or just confusion in classification?
Was the decision to punish the Nine Network over airing racy same-sex love scenes a case of homophobic double-standard or confusion between two different classification systems? asks Crikey intern Matt de Neef.
The pink elephant on the stage: when gays play it straight
Straight actors play gay all the time, but it never works the other way round, writes Ramin Setoodeh. Is Setoodeh being homophobic or honest? Kristin Chenoweth, co-star of openly gay actor Sean Hayes, fights back furiously in the comments.
Rudd, Abbott and special rights for the religious Right
It’s time for the Commonwealth to lift the bar and provide effective coverage to gay people with anti-discrimination provisions, writes former Democrats senator Brian Greig
Abbott says conservatives must embrace gay unions
Six or seven out of 10: that’s what Tony Abbott gets for his conciliation session with the gay community on radio this morning, where he gave “in principle” support to anti-discrimination legislation.
‘Threatened’ Tony has opportunity to repent — in budgies
Tony Abbott’s comments on homosexuality — saying he felt “threatened” by gays — have been roundly attacked as homophobic. Now Tony has a chance to repent, resplendent in the latest designer speedos. Will he accept?
Abbott’s gay fears
Tony Abbott let it slip that he was “threatened” by homosexuality in a 60 minutes interview. Are we really going to allow homophobia in our politicians?
Eddie and Mick feel the heat in Vancouver gay row
Mick Molloy and Eddie McGuire have prompted a blizzard of complaints to Nine with their “homophobic” schoolboy sniggering while commentating US figure skating champion Johnny Weir.
Gays in the military: Tellers get fired, Askers get nothing
Since the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy was enacted in the US military, over 13,500 people have been discharged for making their homosexuality public. But does anything happen to those who break the “Don’t Ask” rule?
Tell it to them straight: you’re not conservative, mum, just homophobic
It’s all well and good for gay people to fight for gay rights, but let’s face it: they are in the minority. It’s time for straight people to fight homophobia in the home, not just go dancing at Mardi Gras, writes Katrina Fox.
The internet is totally .GAY
With a whole bunch of new top-level domain names on the way (i.e. other than just .com .org and .net) a host of high-profile folk are getting behind a push to approve .gay, which will then be monetised to fund gay rights campaigns.
PHOTO GALLERY: Whoever said Canberra was boring? The mass exorcism of Parliament House
Last weekend, a mass political “prayer offensive” at Mt Ainslie against alleged satanic rituals included Christian singalongs, speaking in tongues and some Atheist, gay and Pagan gatecrashers. A rollicking good time was had by all.
Meghan McCain: Man up over Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell
Barack Obama may love a stirring speech about his plans to end the controversial ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy for gays in the military, but he is all talk no action, argues Meghan McCain.
Memo to the British Press: "husband" isn’t a dirty word
Gay boy band star Stephen Gately, who married in 2006, died this week. But why doesn’t the media refer to his husband as his husband? The language involving same-sex relationships is a political minefield.
