BIT by bit, the laws and prejudices that have kept society’s heterosexual majority on a pedestal above and away from their differently oriented brothers and sisters are being steadily consigned to the past.
The latest step along the road to true equality and tolerance came yesterday when two men from Speers Point – Paul McCarthy and Trent Kandler – were the first of 31 same-sex couples to marry in New Zealand, having won a Tourism New Zealand competition to celebrate the legalisation of gay marriage in that country.
At least 15 nations and several sub-national states and territories have passed laws enabling same-sex marriage. Even so, the global community comprises some 195 nations, showing that gay equality in all of its aspects has a long way to go to become completely accepted.
With dozens of cameras trained on their nuptials, Mr McCarthy and Mr Kandler expressed their frustration that same-sex marriage was still to be made legal in Australia. Nor will their union have legal status on these shores. The Marriage Act was amended in 2004, defining marriage as solely between a man and a woman, while denying recognition to same-sex marriages transacted abroad. Since then, however, other legal steps have been taken, inching the recognition of same-sex couples ever closer to the full suite of rights and privileges enjoyed by wider society.
As Mr McCarthy said yesterday: “It’s not that big of a deal. It’s just about two girls, or two boys, saying they love each other.”
While the two men can openly express their love for each other without fear or shame, earlier generations of gay men and women were absolutely unable to take such tolerance for granted.
Even now, some religiously minded people, especially, may be discomfited at the direction society is heading on this issue, even if the fear generated by a literal reading of biblical punishments for sodomy and other supposed licentiousness is increasingly set aside for a more forgiving understanding of the Christian mission.
In Mr McCarthy’s words again: “If enough people see that we don’t have two horns, we’re not freaks, that there’s nothing to fear from marriage equality . . .”
Gay marriage has been a peripheral issue so far in the federal election campaign, but it may generate greater interest in the wake of events in New Zealand.
Steadily but surely, the tide of opinion has turned on this issue. Whichever side of politics holds power after September 7 should listen carefully to the people.
Especially so to those left out in the cold by the present laws.
Author: Editorial
Publication: Newcastle Herald
Date: 20 August 2013