It鈥檚 been another pretty big gay news week. The last time I sat down to pen this editorial, US president Barack Obama was yet to 鈥榚volve鈥� on same-sex marriage. What a difference a week makes.
I think Obama鈥檚 public coming-out in support of marriage equality was a significant step in the right direction. Sure, it doesn鈥檛 change much for the average American LGBT couple 鈥� they still can鈥檛 marry and are unable to access legal protections same-sex couples take for granted here. But even small steps forward are worth recognising for what they are 鈥� progress.
What I believe Obama鈥檚 support on same-sex marriage also gives, is a space for world leaders, past and present, to tackle the issue.
On this side of the globe, former Victorian premier and beyondblue chairman Jeff Kennett 鈥� who last year caused a stir when he said children are better off with opposite-sex parents 鈥� has undergone an evolution on same-sex marriage all of his own. Kennett first flagged his change of mind on radio station 3AW in March, but in a newspaper column this week, he went a step further to implore the Catholic Church and others to review their opposition to change.
This is all well and good from the safety of political retirement. The problem is, marriage equality remains an issue that still ties politicians in knots and Prime Minister Julia Gillard isn鈥檛 the only one having a hard time squaring her views on the matter.
Look no further than the awkward turns of Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey on the ABC鈥檚 Q&A program this week with his contention that heterosexual couples don鈥檛 necessarily make better parents than gay couples, but gay couples with (or without) children still shouldn鈥檛 be allowed to marry.
I鈥檝e watched this exchange again and Hockey looks mighty uncomfortable. As uncomfortable as you鈥檇 feel telling a work colleague 鈥� albeit on the other side of the political divide 鈥� that they are not your equal when it comes to solemnising their relationship with their spouse.
Finance Minister Penny Wong鈥檚 response, 鈥淚 know what my family is worth鈥�, really hits at the heart of what the LGBTI community is asking for. Fair treatment.
It鈥檚 important to note that this week marks the 12th International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO). Hopefully Australia鈥檚 political leaders undergo an evolution on this issue by the time IDAHO 2013 rolls around. It鈥檚 not impossible.
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