I've been chatting with some friends this week - and I'm stunned by how many people don't know much about the political happenings in this country at the moment...
The main thing that worries me is that there are a lot of gay guys & girls out there who don't seem to realise that the Greens and Democrats are the only political parties (as far as I can tell) who actively support and fight for gay rights in this country. The Liberal party seems vehemently anti-gay, based on about a thousand things they've done in the past 11 years, not least of which was to force the ACT government to withdraw same sex partnership legislation. The Labor party says it cares - but I'm not really very aware of whether their heart is in it as there has not been a lot of movement from state governments of recent with this, but at least they sound better.
I'm going to go all out and recommend that at least for the upper house (senate) you consider voting green / democrat and then preference who you wish after that, because I'd much rather them have a bigger say in controlling my life than say the Christian democrat or Family First parties, because they'd have us all sent to an island and shot if the real truth were to be told.
Many of you reading this won't be in a position to vote - being foreigners and all, but do feel free to ask your Aussie friends what they're thinking and encourage them to be gay friendly in their voting.
Please feel free to debate any of this here.
5 comments:
I decided days ago to follow the same path as you and it is amazing the number of people who say I do not know what to do? I read a comment on another blog this fellar is not going to vote for Rudd because he did not answer Roves Question on "WHO WOULD YOU TURN GAY FOR"and that was enough to turn himm off Rudd?he thinks howard is the better option because he will help them in time in regards to same sex couples having the same rights as the straight world.
How fickle is that!he does not know the thinking of the liberal party thats for sure.
Cheers Wally
I find your debate interesting, and particularly the lack of awareness - or is it more apathy? Here I refer not only to Australia but the global approach of the masses to democracy (where democracy is in fact in place).
It's something that was driven home for me on Tuesday evening at a show I went to - one of South Africa's best know comedians Pieter Dirk Uys who created a character in drag - Evita Bezuidenhout in the early eighties and successfully used this platform to challenge apartheid through humour. He continues now in challenging current government policies and it became painfully aware how apathetic our nation is at challenging decisions being made and policies followed by the current government.
It made me realise how important it is for every individual to be informed and get involved, even if that means just making an informed vote.
Good luck for your elections - and particularly in so far as it relates to "family" rights.
What are the current polls saying? Do you feel that the current goverment will be re-elected?
I cannot believe that for once the UK are one of the leading countries in equal rights for gay people sham HRH cannot force the rules down under.
Wally: but did he see how Howard reacted to the same question - he was much worse than Rudd.
Martin: I think apathy is definitely the problem - if people jumped up and down a little more - it might force people to think differently. Also just being out is in itself a statement - and if there were more visible gay people in relationships then recognition of these relationships would be easier.
Speeding Bullett: The polls are generally in favour of a new government, but some predict a close shave... so it's hard to know what will happen in the end. In 24 hours we should know...
yes it is astonishing the Labor party as tweedledum decided to match policies, on almsot every level, with the tweedledee conservative Liberals just to make themselves a smaller target.
But as Peter Garrett joked once Labor gets in it will be interesting to see what evolves in terms of Republic, gay rights, foreign policy/Iraq, refugees.
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