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| Image source: WikiCommons, photo by: Beatrice Much |
In recent days politicians in Britain have voted in support of legislation allowing gay men and women the right to legally marry. Politicians in the Commons voted 400 to 175, giving a large majority for such a controversial Bill. Although almost half of the
Conservative party and a number of Labour members voted against or abstained,
progress for further equality in Britain has won a landmark result. All that
needs to happen now is for a majority agreement in the House of Lords for the
Bill to pass into law, but this is predicted as unlikely as most members are
against such legislation.
Although the legislation has a
tough road ahead to pass through the House of Lords, at least large sections
from all major parties agree that same sex couples have the right to marry. This vote in the Commons will also promote further debate in Parliament
and in our society on an issue that affects thousands of people.
Such support by British politicians for gay marriage rights and recent meaningful debates in Australia would have not been heard of over 20
years ago. Today, many
countries including France and the United States are also talking about it and bringing the same sex marriage issue to society . Let’s hope this effort can stay on course and that countries such as Britain ,
Australia ,
French and the US
will follow Canada ,
in legally allowing same sex marriages.
Acceptance of diversity - the diversity of 1 in 10 Australians for that matter - is crucial to our global impact as a society. Twenty years from now will we be a modern, forward thinking, educated and dynamic society or will we be a close-minded, intolerant back water on the other side of the globe? We are a dominant force in the southern hemisphere, it's about time we step up and make it known that we're dynamic leaders here too.
ReplyDeleteI total agree that attitudes in Australian politics and society, regarding the issue of diversity needs to change for such a dominant nation in the Southern Hemisphere. I think that we as a nation need to work harder on educating the next generation on acceptance of diversity and the good points rather then the bad, and this must start in the family home.
DeleteIn my opinion, although I am a white heterosexual male (so I do not suffer much prejudice), the future hopefully will be forward thinking, educated-ish and have a dynamic society, if not, we will be left behind by the rest of the world. Although this ideal can only be achieved with hard work now.
Agree.
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