Comments on: Fighting Homophobia: Nothing Less Than Full Marriage Rights http://www.benjaminsolah.com/blog/?p=1376 The blog of Melbourne horror writer and Marxist revolutionary, Benjamin Solah Mon, 06 Sep 2010 10:25:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: uberVU - social comments http://www.benjaminsolah.com/blog/?p=1376&cpage=1#comment-49173 uberVU - social comments Sat, 31 Oct 2009 05:50:53 +0000 http://www.benjaminsolah.com/blog/?p=1376#comment-49173 <strong>Social comments and analytics for this post...</strong> This post was mentioned on Twitter by benjaminsolah: its #unacceptable that gay marriage is not legal in Australia: http://bit.ly/vLIFe... Social comments and analytics for this post…

This post was mentioned on Twitter by benjaminsolah: its #unacceptable that gay marriage is not legal in Australia: http://bit.ly/vLIFe...

]]> By: Benjamin Solah http://www.benjaminsolah.com/blog/?p=1376&cpage=1#comment-47609 Benjamin Solah Sat, 11 Jul 2009 01:06:08 +0000 http://www.benjaminsolah.com/blog/?p=1376#comment-47609 Mihai, I forgot to mention those laws, but the Centrelink ones were specifically passed before the others. And they were virtually effective immediately. Whilst loading etax 2009 to lodge my tax return, the section on whether or not you've been in a de facto relationship specifies that same-sex couples aren't counted until the 2009-2010 financial year. But I certainly agree that it's virtually an ideological debate. The point is to make people continue to think same-sex relationships are some how less valid than hetero ones, which backs up and encouraged the more ugly side of homophobia such as the harassment and physical abuse. Mihai, I forgot to mention those laws, but the Centrelink ones were specifically passed before the others. And they were virtually effective immediately. Whilst loading etax 2009 to lodge my tax return, the section on whether or not you’ve been in a de facto relationship specifies that same-sex couples aren’t counted until the 2009-2010 financial year.

But I certainly agree that it’s virtually an ideological debate. The point is to make people continue to think same-sex relationships are some how less valid than hetero ones, which backs up and encouraged the more ugly side of homophobia such as the harassment and physical abuse.

]]> By: Mihai Bucur http://www.benjaminsolah.com/blog/?p=1376&cpage=1#comment-47601 Mihai Bucur Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:46:34 +0000 http://www.benjaminsolah.com/blog/?p=1376#comment-47601 Just a clarification for Benjamin: the Centrelink reforms were not the first federal laws to make same-sex couples equal with opposite-sex couples. The government has reformed 84 laws in total, providing same-sex couples with equal rights in areas such as Medicare, leave entitlements, superannuation, etc. This means that same-sex couples now essentially have substantive equality with opposite-sex couples. The problem, of course, lies in the symbolism. Denying marriage to same-sex couples *symbolically* implies they are second-class, thus fuelling homophobia, as you rightly point out. Indeed, after the 2008-09 "practical equality" reforms, the battle seems to be almost entirely ideological. Just a clarification for Benjamin: the Centrelink reforms were not the first federal laws to make same-sex couples equal with opposite-sex couples. The government has reformed 84 laws in total, providing same-sex couples with equal rights in areas such as Medicare, leave entitlements, superannuation, etc. This means that same-sex couples now essentially have substantive equality with opposite-sex couples.

The problem, of course, lies in the symbolism. Denying marriage to same-sex couples *symbolically* implies they are second-class, thus fuelling homophobia, as you rightly point out. Indeed, after the 2008-09 “practical equality” reforms, the battle seems to be almost entirely ideological.

]]> By: Gay-and-Lesbian-Law » Benjamin Solah, Marxist Horror Writer » Fighting Homophobia ... http://www.benjaminsolah.com/blog/?p=1376&cpage=1#comment-47557 Gay-and-Lesbian-Law » Benjamin Solah, Marxist Horror Writer » Fighting Homophobia ... Tue, 07 Jul 2009 01:23:35 +0000 http://www.benjaminsolah.com/blog/?p=1376#comment-47557 [...] Benjamin Solah, Marxist Horror Writer » Fighting Homophobia …Same-sex marriage laws, whilst not eliminating homophobia altogether, would be a significant step forward for gay and lesbian equality. Rallies will be held all around Australia on the 1st of August – the 5th Anniversary of Howard … [...] [...] Benjamin Solah, Marxist Horror Writer » Fighting Homophobia …Same-sex marriage laws, whilst not eliminating homophobia altogether, would be a significant step forward for gay and lesbian equality. Rallies will be held all around Australia on the 1st of August – the 5th Anniversary of Howard … [...]

]]> By: Carol http://www.benjaminsolah.com/blog/?p=1376&cpage=1#comment-47537 Carol Thu, 02 Jul 2009 06:43:38 +0000 http://www.benjaminsolah.com/blog/?p=1376#comment-47537 Same-sex marriage is legal in Canada, although churches are allowed to refuse to perform the ceremony. Right now the Catholic Church in our town is having a fight over over the discovery that two of its members are gay. But that's just the Catholic Church, fortunately the other churches are far more Christian. .-= Carol´s last blog ..<a href="http://randomwriterlythoughts.blogspot.com/2009/06/its-chain-gang.html" rel="nofollow">It's a Chain, Gang!</a> =-. Same-sex marriage is legal in Canada, although churches are allowed to refuse to perform the ceremony. Right now the Catholic Church in our town is having a fight over over the discovery that two of its members are gay. But that’s just the Catholic Church, fortunately the other churches are far more Christian.
Carol´s last blog ..It’s a Chain, Gang! My ComLuv Profile

]]> By: Adrian http://www.benjaminsolah.com/blog/?p=1376&cpage=1#comment-47524 Adrian Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:17:47 +0000 http://www.benjaminsolah.com/blog/?p=1376#comment-47524 Benjamin, I just wanted to say "thank you" for caring! I agree that it's a very important issue which has such a deep impact on people's lives. Benjamin, I just wanted to say “thank you” for caring! I agree that it’s a very important issue which has such a deep impact on people’s lives.

]]> By: Benjamin Solah http://www.benjaminsolah.com/blog/?p=1376&cpage=1#comment-47522 Benjamin Solah Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:06:34 +0000 http://www.benjaminsolah.com/blog/?p=1376#comment-47522 Ah, isn't it ironic that the first laws the make same-sex couples equal, was so same-sex couples could be as equally screwed over by Centrelink as hetero couples. It doesn't seem that big a step does it? Except I think the denial is mostly ideological. Gays are still not the same to them. Did you get my tag on the previous post btw? Ah, isn’t it ironic that the first laws the make same-sex couples equal, was so same-sex couples could be as equally screwed over by Centrelink as hetero couples.

It doesn’t seem that big a step does it? Except I think the denial is mostly ideological. Gays are still not the same to them.

Did you get my tag on the previous post btw?

]]> By: Kath Lockett http://www.benjaminsolah.com/blog/?p=1376&cpage=1#comment-47521 Kath Lockett Tue, 30 Jun 2009 10:50:58 +0000 http://www.benjaminsolah.com/blog/?p=1376#comment-47521 YES - when you think that even our bloody Centrelink recognises same sex couples (the advertisements have two photographs of two towels hanging on hooks) - and therefore the essential stuff like the dole, pension, sick benefits and tax are applicable to same-sex relationships, then surely they should be able to marry as well? YES – when you think that even our bloody Centrelink recognises same sex couples (the advertisements have two photographs of two towels hanging on hooks) – and therefore the essential stuff like the dole, pension, sick benefits and tax are applicable to same-sex relationships, then surely they should be able to marry as well?

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