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New Aussie PM: No to Gay Marriage


Gillard x390 (Getty) I Advocate.com

Australia has its first female prime minister, Julia Gillard, but it doesn’t look like she will be pushing for any changes as far as marriage equality Down Under goes.Gillard became prime minister Wednesday (Thursday in Australia) after Kevin Rudd stepped down in response to falling support in the Labor Party, which itself has been losing favor in opinion polls.

Rudd, who had been prime minister since 2007, was an opponent of marriage equality, telling Australia’s ABC Radio in 2009 that marriage should be between a man and a woman. “[The Labor Party] is consistent with the policy that we took to last election,” he said, that the party "fully respects the integrity of same-sex relationships.”

The Welsh-born Gillard, who served as deputy prime minister to Rudd until Wednesday, has stated the same position on the issue. The following is an excerpt of a TV interview she gave last July:

Interviewer: Where do you stand on [marriage equality?]

Gillard: Well, the government’s position is very clear that marriage is between a man and a woman.

That’s your position as well?

Yes, it certainly is.

Why is that?

Well, I understand that this is an issue that we’ve got to deal in contemporary Australian society with all of our history; hundreds of years of history in Australia and in western culture beyond what marriage means.

Things change, though, society changes.

Yes, it does. But we’ve said marriage is between a man and a woman. But we understand, I understand, that there are other forms of committed adult relationships and that people want them registered and recognized. And we have obviously said in the past that we understand that there are schemes in states that are moving along to recognize committed adult relationships.

Like a civil union? You think that’s a good idea?

Well, there are registration arrangements now in some states. I don’t want to pre-empt the debate.... But the government’s position about marriage being between a man and a woman is a very clear position.

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Reader Comments
  • Name: David
    Date posted: 7/11/2010 6:01:08 AM
    Hometown: London UK

    Comment:

    Australia, you should be ashamed of your Government. Make your feelings heard. Disgusting.

  • Name: Stephen
    Date posted: 6/26/2010 11:01:33 PM
    Hometown: Port Macquarie

    Comment:

    she has lost my vote. She is living "in si" so she should be more enlightened

  • Name: Jimbo33
    Date posted: 6/25/2010 8:05:16 PM
    Hometown: Sydney

    Comment:

    The only things you need to know about Julia Gillard are:(1) She's never met a question she can't give an evasive answer to, and (2) her alpha and omega is political expedience -- she totally lacks the integrity and balls to stand what for what is right if her party is against it.

  • Name: Wimsy
    Date posted: 6/25/2010 6:21:29 PM
    Hometown: Provincetown

    Comment:

    You guys are all about process and patience, which is what blacks and gays tried in this country for a few generations, and proved one thing: relying on process and patience guarantees the status quo. Your last prime minister dismissed and insulted your gay community during his entire term of office, and yet you are ready to "give the girl a chance" - even after she's said that marriage is for heterosexuals only. Stir things up, or you'll get no progress!

  • Name: tHOMAS j
    Date posted: 6/25/2010 2:59:04 AM
    Hometown: cANADA

    Comment:

    bACKWARDS...WHY ARE PEOPLE SO SO STUPID?

  • Name: Sarah
    Date posted: 6/25/2010 12:19:10 AM
    Hometown: Melbourne

    Comment:

    wow, ignorant vile comments from ignorant vile posters...

  • Name: Tyler
    Date posted: 6/24/2010 6:30:32 PM
    Hometown: San Luis Obispo

    Comment:

    Why is she incapable of properly answering the questions on the matter? She sounded like a broken record.

  • Name: Marty
    Date posted: 6/24/2010 3:41:10 PM
    Hometown: Reamer

    Comment:

    Come on lady, get with the program.

  • Name: Paul Mullen
    Date posted: 6/24/2010 1:05:18 PM
    Hometown: Stamford, Connecticut

    Comment:

    does anyone have the e-mail address to contact Julia Gillard directly. I was going to congratulate her, since she was born in the same area of the UK as I was, but I will have some stern words for her now instead. WHAT AN OUTRAGE!!!

  • Name: Vaibhav
    Date posted: 6/24/2010 11:16:29 AM
    Hometown: Adelaide, Australia

    Comment:

    Having been born in India, grown up in New Zealand and now living in Australia, I feel I have a grasp on what attitudes, prejudices, enlightened thoughts on gay marriage pervade a number of societies. To think that a country as conservative and segmented as India can discuss and move towards more progressive policies (recent repeal of anti-homosexuality law) against all odds and NZ having introduced civil unions some time ago, Australia's supposed left of centre party cannot even produce an environment where discussion, education and consultation can occur on this issue. Perhaps it should not be a surprise as many people I have spoken to are lost beyond words at even the mere thought of a woman Prime Minister. I won't lie, it is times like this I have acute nostalgia for the more forward thinking people of New Zealand.

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