FOR the local homosexual community, it’s a matter of equal rights.
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That’s why they’re fighting hammer and tongs to have the marriage act altered to allow same sex couples to tie the knot.
However the overwhelming majority of constituents in the Hume electorate oppose a change to marriage laws, says local Member Alby Schultz.
In a statement to Parliament last month, Mr Schultz said feedback from his constituents indicated most believed marriage should remain an institution between ‘man and wife’.
Of the 682 constituents who contacted Mr Schultz on the issue, only 46 (6.8 per cent) said the union of marriage should include same sex couples.
That number contradicts recent Galaxy and Neilson polls, all of which dating back to November indicate most Australians support the concept of gay marriage.
Mr Schultz’s findings, however, are parallel with the feedback of most MPs.
Members of the House of Representatives last week made statements regarding the views of their constituents on marriage.
The bulk said their electorates in general supported the status quo.
“I take from these results that the overwhelming majority of people who are concerned with this issue and who have taken the time to contact me are in favour of maintaining the current definition of 'marriage',” Mr Schultz told the House.
“Their view is concurrent with my own.”
The results of a Goulburn Post web poll were trending against Mr Schultz’s claims.
As of 10am yesterday, 307 people had voted in the poll: ‘Do you think laws should be changed to allow gay marriage?’
Of the voters, 166 supported a change in the act to allow same sex marriage and 141 opposed.
Local man Brian Hill has been campaigning for equality for more than 30 years.
“As a young man of 21 in 1978 I protested and marched for the legalisation of homosexuality,” he said.
“Many of my co-protesters were arrested and subjected to heavy fines. This protest is marked each year by the Mardi Gras.
“The current debate on same sex marriage basically boils down to equality, the same thing I was asking for in 1978, and still don’t have.
“At the end of the day people who choose to marry do so for love. Love is a good thing, why deny anyone the right to declare their love for their partner in front of family, friends and the community and make a commitment by marrying,” he said.
Upon moving to Goulburn a year ago, Nigel Featherstone wrote to Mr Schultz to request a meeting to discuss the issue.
No meeting was arranged.
Mr Featherstone still aspires to speak to discuss the subject with Mr Schultz.
“I’ve been chipping away at this issue for a while,” he said.
“It’s all about fairness and equity, ensuring gays and lesbians have the choice to marry.”
Mr Featherstone believes a change in the marriage act could help protect the youth of regional Australia.
“As we know, suicide rates among young Australian men are high. I tend to think that option of marriage could give those young men hope,” he said.
A change to the marriage act is unlikely in the current term of government, with most MPs adamant their electorates are opposed to alterations.
What are your views on gay marriage? Vote in our opinion poll.
