I believe that good governments seek to lead on important social issues.

Good governments set the social agenda for their communities. They govern as leaders, not followers. So I’m proud to be a member of a Government that believes all loving, committed relationships deserve to be treated equally and to be celebrated.

As the Deputy Chief Minister in the ACT Government, it is a matter of considerable pride that we have taken significant action in the Territory to recognise and strengthen relationships — action to support loving, caring relationships, regardless of the sexuality of those involved.

After all, strong relationships deliver important benefits to everyone. We all define ourselves, in some way, by those we choose to share our lives with. Love, trust, intimacy and commitment are to be found
at the heart of all good relationships.

The ACT Civil Partnership laws represent an important step in the journey towards full legal equality for gay and lesbian Canberrans but they do not reach that goal — only full marriage equality does.

Marriage is an important and valuable institution that enables couples to express their love and commitment to each other, celebrate with family and friends, and ensure that their relationship is fully recognised by our laws.  Excluding some couples from getting married only entrenches difference.

Allowing religious organisations to shape national marriage laws violates the principles of separation between church and state.  Governments permit divorce, abortion, sex before marriage and child-bearing out of wedlock. None of these things has affected the right or ability of people to live by their religion, and there  is no reason why gay marriage will either.   We have to ask why is it that gay issues are so often the exception to this sensible division between church and State?

It is insulting and offensive to be told that by extending equality, respect and recognition to same sex relationships that Government would somehow be undermining marriage.  What does it say about community perceptions of the institution of marriage if it could be weakened or degraded by acknowledging the strength and validity of same-sex relationships?

Gay men and lesbians are part of our community. We are not nameless, faceless people who live on the margins of society. We deserve the respect and dignity afforded to others; we deserve equality.  We deserve this equality not only because it is functional and practical but because it is also highly symbolic. It allows us to hold our heads up high as equal members of the community and to celebrate our relationships, confident in their standing. Social change in Australia is difficult to achieve.  In the last century most significant social change has been driven by Labor Governments and championed by the rank and file membership of the country’s longest standing political movement.

It has fallen again to the rank and file of the ALP to champion gay marriage.  Across Australia the Rainbow Labor movement has organised State and Territory Branch support of the following motion: “This Conference calls upon the ALP National Conference to amend the National platform to support the legal right of all adult couples in Australia to be married if they so choose, and for that marriage to be recognised and registered by law in Australia, regardless of the sexual orientation, or gender, of the parties to the marriage.”

This motion and others like it have been passed by ALP conferences in Tasmania (July 2009), Victoria (November 2009), Northern Territory (November 2010), South Australia (November 2010) and most recently in Queensland and Western Australia (June 2011).

The ACT Branch debated the issue in July and recorded the largest vote of support of any Labor branch. I am confident that the motion sends a clear signal on the values of the Labor Party and what it means to believe in equality, fairness  and human dignity.

In December this year, the ALP National Conference will consider the motions passed by State and Territory branches.  The Conference has the opportunity to enable equality and ensure a progressive and inclusive Australia into the future.  Rainbow Labor will be campaigning for this change. Our campaign website is now online: www.threequestions.com.au

By Andrew Barr — Deputy Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory and co-patron of ACT Rainbow Labor.

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