Premium Content:

Marriage Equality Advocates Call on Premier to Take Action

Colin Barnett

Marriage Equality advocates are calling on Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett to take a harder line with outspoken Southern Metropolitan MLC Nick Goiran following his speech linking same sex marriage to incestuous relationships.

- Advertisement -

Yesterday when asked by reporters about Mr Goiran’s comments the Premier refused to be drawn on whether or not he felt they were offensive to LGBT people. The Premier said the comments were “inappropriate” and that he did see the logic in Mr Goiran’s argument.

The Premier said he was not the type of leader to censor what members of his party could say.

Brian Greig, Western Australian Convener of Marriage Equality Australia said the Premiers response was not sufficient and called on the Premier to take more direct action against Mr Goiran.

“It’s not enough for the Premier to hide behind ‘freedom of speech’, these comments are wrong and offensive and must be condemned by community leaders,” said Mr Greig.

Ivan Hinton, Australian Marriage Equality’s Deputy National Director, labeled the comments are “disrespectful”.

“Marriage Equality is about allowing the current definition of marriage to embrace same sex couples, not radically changing marriage to include other types of relationships.”

Mr Hinton said Mr Goiran’s comments were a reminder why a referendum on the subject would be inappropriate.

“Very quickly we’d find ourselves facing a nasty fear campaign based on irrelevant and offensive arguments of incest, polygamy and bestiality,” said Mr Hinton.

Earlier this week on the SBS program ‘Insight’ Senator Penny Wong outlined she was against a referendum on the issue as she didn;t believe society was ready for a respectful discussion.

“If we don’t have a capacity yet to have a compassionate and respectful discussion in the Parliament, then I certainly would be very fearful or concerned about having it more broadly,” said Senator Wong.

Graeme Watson

Read More

16-08-2013   Nick Goiran says Same Sex Marriage Will Lead to Incestuous Relationships

16-08-2013   Baroness Royall Says Liberal MP Nick Goiran is “fundamentally mistaken”

 

Latest

On This Gay Day | Author and activist Dan Savage was born

Author Dan Savage has written widely about sex, created TV shows and shared his own story.

Miami Horror are ready to bring party vibes with their live show

Ben Plant chatted to OUTinPerth about making music and hitting the road for live shows.

Sri Lanka’s President says there’s no plans to promote tourism to LGBTIQA+ people

The commitment comes as there is growing pressure to descriminalise homosexual acts.

Rainbow Futures WA: Ban on conversion practices ‘cannot come soon enough’

"The government must urgently introduce legislation to protect LGBTQA+ people from these abhorrent practices.”

Newsletter

Don't miss

On This Gay Day | Author and activist Dan Savage was born

Author Dan Savage has written widely about sex, created TV shows and shared his own story.

Miami Horror are ready to bring party vibes with their live show

Ben Plant chatted to OUTinPerth about making music and hitting the road for live shows.

Sri Lanka’s President says there’s no plans to promote tourism to LGBTIQA+ people

The commitment comes as there is growing pressure to descriminalise homosexual acts.

Rainbow Futures WA: Ban on conversion practices ‘cannot come soon enough’

"The government must urgently introduce legislation to protect LGBTQA+ people from these abhorrent practices.”

WestPride Archives signs 10-year agreement with Murdoch University

Formerly known as Gay and Lesbian Archives WA (GALAWA), the archive holds WA's LGBTIQA+ history over the decades.

On This Gay Day | Author and activist Dan Savage was born

Author Dan Savage has written widely about sex, created TV shows and shared his own story.

Miami Horror are ready to bring party vibes with their live show

Ben Plant chatted to OUTinPerth about making music and hitting the road for live shows.

Sri Lanka’s President says there’s no plans to promote tourism to LGBTIQA+ people

The commitment comes as there is growing pressure to descriminalise homosexual acts.