The Senate has passed a motion celebrating the first anniversary of marriage equality being passed in the parliament. The motion also noted the harm caused by the postal survey and that LGBTIQ+ people still face daily discrimination.
“I’m pleased to be celebrating the first anniversary of marriage equality passing parliament,” said Senator Janet Rice, Australian Greens LGBTIQ+ spokesperson.
“While this anniversary is a momentous occasion, we must remember the harm caused to LGBTIQ+ people, our families and our communities by the unnecessary postal survey and debate over our human rights.”
“The historic marriage equality vote was the culmination of decades of tireless campaigning by LGBTIQ+ leaders, activists and organisations.”
“It’s important to acknowledge, a year on from marriage equality, the fight for LGBTIQ+ rights is not over. The current debate over whether LGBTIQ+ people should be free from discrimination in religious schools simply because of who they are illustrates this.”
“I’m proud that the Greens have always stood with LGBTIQ+ leaders and activists, fighting for recognition of our relationships and families, while the major parties spent years and years denying LGBTIQ+ people our rights.”
“The Greens have always stood with LGBTIQ+ people and we always will. We won’t rest until we remove every discrimination against LGBTIQ+ people in our laws and in our society.”
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Motion
Senators Rice and Pratt: To move — That the Senate —
(a) notes that:
(i) 7 December 2018 marks the first anniversary of marriage equality in Australia,
(ii) this resounding ‘yes’ vote is something to be celebrated, as is the passing of marriage equality in Australia,
(iii) the postal survey in itself is not to be celebrated, as it was opposed by the majority of LGBTIQ+ Australians and caused a lot of harm to LGBTIQ+ Australians and their families,
(iv) the historic ‘yes’ vote and the passing of marriage equality was the result of decades of tireless campaigning by brave community leaders and activists, and
(v) marriage equality is not the end of the fight for equality for LGBTIQ+ Australians and their families, many of whom still face discrimination in their daily lives; and
(b) calls on all parliamentarians to continue to work to end discrimination against LGBTIQ+ Australians and their families in all areas of their lives.
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