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Monday, September 17, 2012

Our Relationships Exist, Our Children Exist, Our Families Exist, Our Marriages Exist, and Our Love Exists

Posted by on Mon, Sep 17, 2012 at 9:21 AM

Australian Labor Senator Louise Pratt, who has a transgender partner, gave an emotional floor speech on Monday arguing for the need for marriage equality, fighting back tears as she told the few fellow lawmakers assembled that the bill is 'personal' for her.

Senator Pratt's speech is incredibly moving. More than worth fifteen minutes of your time. Via Towleroad.

 

Comments (24) RSS

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1
Poly Relationships Exist, Poly Children Exist, Poly Families Exist, Poly Marriages Exist, and Poly Love Exists
Posted by What Makes YOU So Special, Danny? on September 17, 2012 at 9:30 AM
Pick1 2
"More importantly, it is about support for marriage itself. Recognition of the importance of lasting, committed, loving relationships. And the public recognition and display of that commitment."

Beautiful. Loved it.
Posted by Pick1 on September 17, 2012 at 9:46 AM
3
Anyone look up pictures of her husband? He's kinda hot. As a single gay man, I didn't really think I'd ever have to worry about competition from lesbians.

Regardless, this was a great speech.
Posted by AndyInChicago on September 17, 2012 at 10:03 AM
Rob in Baltimore 4
1,Heterosexuality and homosexuality are sexual orientations. Polygamy is a type of marriage, not a sexual orientation.
Posted by Rob in Baltimore http://www.wishbookweb.com/ on September 17, 2012 at 10:09 AM
5
Really sad that so few senators decide to be bother to go to a debate that is so important. Amazing speech.
Posted by ali.p on September 17, 2012 at 10:16 AM
6

Trolly-boy, please hit yourself over the head with a baseball hat. Try a dozen times.

Posted by Velvetbabe on September 17, 2012 at 11:09 AM
7

Beautiful speech. I'd vote for the woman for president. As far as the place being virtually empty, and the few there appearing to ignore the senator - as someone who watches a great deal of CSPAN, I can tell you this is common in the U.S. senate as well. Oftentimes speeches are given late into the night, with only a few members present. And even when there are lots present, it's rare in our presently hugely polarized political process that members are swayed by speeches from the other side. Sad, but true. Hopefully it's different in Australia.
Posted by Velvetbabe on September 17, 2012 at 11:15 AM
8
6 - make that "bat", not "hat". It has to be something that will wake up your idiot noggin.
Posted by Velvetbabe on September 17, 2012 at 11:16 AM
9
6

Do you deny that Poly Relationships Exist?
Do you deny that Poly Children Exist?
Do you deny that Poly Families Exist?
Do you deny that Poly Marriages Exist?
Do you deny that Poly Love Exists?

Or do you just not give a shit?
Posted by Ignoramus or Bigot? on September 17, 2012 at 11:43 AM
kim in portland 10
Lovely speech indeed. Well done Senator Pratt.

Also the Foreign Affairs Minister, Bob Carr, has become the latest Labor politician in Australia to declare his support for marriage equality.

I think that they expect 9 Greens senators and at least 20 Labor senators to vote in favor. It is likely that Coalition senators will vote against, they are being strongly encouraged against it by their leadership.

This is not the first time a marriage equality bill has been introduced. In 2009 only six senators, all from the Greens, voted in favor. I believe there are 4 separate bills to legalise same-sex marriage before federal Parliament, two sponsored by the Greens and two by Labor.
Posted by kim in portland http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2010/11/fast-paced_video_provides_a_fu.html on September 17, 2012 at 11:55 AM
Rob in Baltimore 11
9, Yes all those things exist, (Personally, I think polygamy between consenting adults should be legal.) but they are not analogous to gay rights and marriage. Heterosexuality and homosexuality are sexual orientations. Polygamy is a type of marriage, not a sexual orientation.
Posted by Rob in Baltimore http://www.wishbookweb.com/ on September 17, 2012 at 12:11 PM
12
11

thank you for your support.

WTF is Danny's problem?
Posted by hot damn! we're winning!! on September 17, 2012 at 12:43 PM
Rob in Baltimore 13
12, Can you point me to where Dan Savage condemns polygamy?
Posted by Rob in Baltimore http://www.wishbookweb.com/ on September 17, 2012 at 12:52 PM
14
13

one of you fanboys help bob out here....
Posted by fy87rvce4yvd6v5gdrvyr5vtfui6tby77898ku9fr on September 17, 2012 at 1:14 PM
15
11, Can you point us to where Dan Savage endorses polygamy?
Posted by just point the way. on September 17, 2012 at 1:18 PM
Rob in Baltimore 16
15, I'm not claiming that Dan Savage endorses or condemns polygamy. You made the claim. Back it up.

Polygamy isn't analogous to gay marriage. Marriage is a concept, an idea. Sexuality is a built-in innate human characteristic. It's part of our physiological, and psychological selves

Even it the law says a straight man who believes in the concept of polygamy must pick just one spouse, he can find a mate to whom he is attracted. If the law bans gay marriage, a gay man cannot chose to be attracted to a woman. He cannot marry someone to whom he is attracted. Gay people did not chose what sex that they were born.
Posted by Rob in Baltimore http://www.wishbookweb.com/ on September 17, 2012 at 3:37 PM
17
16

so.

you CAN'T point us to where Dan Savage endorses polygamy?

is that it?

ok. lets update the score....

Troll 24

Bob 0
Posted by you're smoking. not in a good way..... on September 17, 2012 at 4:06 PM
Rob in Baltimore 18
17, Here ya go sweet cheeks.

"I have the same reaction to legalizing marriage for gays as I do for polygamists. What’s the big deal? Legalize it. It’s kind of like arguing against giving women the vote because then women will want to enter the work force. (Horrors!)"-Dan Savage

http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/03/05-1…
Posted by Rob in Baltimore http://www.wishbookweb.com/ on September 17, 2012 at 4:31 PM
19
It's clear to me from the horrendous décor in the Senate Chamber that Australians have been marginalizing gay people. Get some homos in there to redecorate!
Posted by Piano Tuna on September 17, 2012 at 6:27 PM
Posted by venomlash on September 17, 2012 at 7:47 PM
21
18

nice going, bob!

danny's been holding out on us......
Posted by Twin Relics of Barbarism on September 18, 2012 at 5:46 AM
Rob in Baltimore 22
21, Holding out? More like your own ineptitude. It took me all of 30 seconds to find this publicly posted column on this very website. Sorry that you're so incredibly bad at the internet.
Posted by Rob in Baltimore http://www.wishbookweb.com/ on September 18, 2012 at 5:58 AM
Posted by venomlash on September 18, 2012 at 6:58 AM
24
18

Maybe we're missing something but that post seems to be by Josh Feit.

Help us out here, Bob.....
Posted by Bob. have you been skipping your Antiretrovirals again? on September 19, 2012 at 9:11 AM

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