BENDIGO, Friday 31 July 2015.
On Friday night, at the Goldfields Library in Bendigo, an open forum discussed the controversial issue of marriage equality, the redefining of the marriage act to include same sex relationships. The convenor and Voice of Reason founder, Samuel Tshisekedi, opened the discussion by asking:“Is it ever ok to look down on someone as a second class citizen for any reason, be it their religion, skin color etc.”
The group responded with a resounding ‘No’ until the exceptions started rolling in; pedophiles, the killer of Cecil the lion. A big step from someone’s race to them committing a crime.
Most attendees admitted that they would find it difficult forgiving someone who committed a crime against a victim, particularly a vulnerable one, or who knowingly allowed this to happen (church cover up of abuse was mentioned) and while this is an emotional topic it strays and perhaps detracts from the issue at hand.
Following more discussion, the consensus was that it was not ok to treat anyone as a second class citizen (but it would probably happen, let’s be realistic).
This opened the door for the discussion we were there for, that of redefining the marriage law to remove the ‘man and woman’ condition and replace it with ‘two people’. Of the thirty or so attendees only one supported marriage equality. Andrea argued that the issue was about equality, and ending discrimination.
“As it stands the Marriage Act excludes anyone in a same sex relationship from partaking in this celebration. Marriage equality is not about granting special rights, but about granting the same rights to everyone!”
The conversations that followed pulled apart the definitions of marriage and love, reasons for marriage, reasons for redefining marriage and the ‘slippery slope’ argument raised.
The conversation will continue over the next two monthly meetings, which are held on the last Friday of each month, from 6pm to 7.30, at the Goldfields (Bendigo) library.