Never forget persecution

MARRIAGE LAW

NOW the inevitable marriage equality has been achieved with great celebration and national pride, we should also bow our heads and pause for a moment. Amid the political hoopla and some personal aggrandisement, can we reflect on those who gave their lives to achieve this essential human right, denied for so long, and with such a terrible price so many have silently paid. We should never forget the climate of fear and persecution inflicted on LGBTI communities. There are many of us who would prefer to stand quietly reflective while the political parties and individuals argue and claim this as their achievement.

Many of us will always be haunted by the thousands of our community, family and friends who preferred to give their lives than live in fear and persecution. If we forget this for one moment, those organisations which maintain their persecution will continue to ply their doctrinaire culture. While this is a national pride day, let us not forget the millions of people imprisoned or executed in religiously conservative countries. While it was sad to see the representatives of this doctrinaire position slink away in Parliament, they will quietly return as if nothing has changed and some will continue to pay an awful price.

We will remember them. lions of Australians voted against radically changing one of our key social institutions. Supporters of same-sex marriage, including many politicians, told us there would no adverse consequences. They must support legislation to enshrine our freedoms into law. Freedom of conscience, freedom of speech and the right of parents to decide what their children are taught about sexuality and gender must now be permanently protected. It’s time for politicians to put aside personal agendas and respect the freedoms of the people.

Great to be Australian

WHAT a great day to be an Australian after the same-sex marriage Bill was passed. A day when all Australians can be proud of how inclusive we are as a society. Yes, even you Eric Abetz, John Howard and Bob Katter.

Congratulations

LOVE wins. Congratulations to all the same-sex couples in Tassie who can now marry their partners, and thank you to the Tasmanian residents and parliamentarians who said ‘yes’.

Subject to the law

THE right to freedom of religion has never been absolute and has always been subject to the laws of the land. It makes no sense to allow religious believers and con- A new way to have your say themercury.com.au readers have a new way to have their say. It’s free to use, just register and have your say. For more details and to register, visit the website. scientious objectors to deny marriage services to same-sex couples, when religious chemists cannot refuse to dispense contraceptives, religious hoteliers cannot refuse a room to an unmarried couple, religious taxi drivers cannot refuse a ride to a man cheating on his wife, and religious shopkeepers cannot deny service to couples who have divorced. Moral disapproval is not grounds for legal discrimination.

Deserted in faith

BEFORE the survey, Malcolm Turnbull stated: “Religious freedom ... will be protected in any Bill that emerges from this Parliament.” In the final vote, he would only support a couple of minor religious freedom amendments, which were defeated because he did not insist on a party vote. Bill Shorten prevented his MPs from supporting religious freedom and parental rights amendments. People of all faiths have been deserted by the major parties, and Cory Bernardi’s Australian Conservatives is their only refuge.

Rewriting history

MALCOLM Turnbull has no right crowing about his brilliance with the passing of the same-sex marriage Bill. It is not his political achievement but that of the voters who did the job that the spineless politicians didn’t do. Talk about rewriting history before the ink is even dry on the legislation.

If only Hayes was here

COULD someone tell me why the Hayes Prison Farm was closed? It housed lesser criminal elements. It was a working farm which supplied hospitals and charities with milk, meat and vegetables. Now we have an overcrowded Risdon Prison. If Hayes was functioning, this would ease the problem.

So unwelcoming

I ALSO ask what sort of country have we become that we have treated asylum seekers as those on Manus Island? Indeed overall, with the benefits we enjoy here in Australia, why are we so unwelcoming of those who need our help?

Thank you

A BIG thank you to nurses and doctors at the Royal Hobart Hospital who looked after my husband Poul in ward APU. They were fantastic.

Third strike

IF Bill Shorten is thinking of himself as a future PM, forget it mate. Your very low opinion poll with the Australian people sinks lower with your ridiculous decision not to sack Sam Dastyari. He may have had three chances, but you now have none, especially with the words “integrity and trust”.