Friday, November 09, 2012

Gays slam Premier meeting bishop before law tabled

GAY rights campaigners have criticised the Queensland government for meeting with a Catholic archbishop on the eve of scrapping state-sanctioned ceremonies for civil unions.
 
Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays spokeswoman Shelley Argent said the government "never" accepted an invitation to meet representatives of the gay community before they introduced the changes.

"Democratic governments, state or federal, should be run by the state, not the churches," she said.

"We need to keep in mind that civil partnerships are not religious ceremonies, they are civil and should be left for the state to run without interference from churches."

The Australian reported Premier Campbell Newman and Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie had a private meeting with Brisbane Catholic Archbishop Mark Coleridge "to discuss the church's issues regarding the legislation" on June 19.

The following day surprise changes were tabled in parliament to remove provisions for civil unions "that may be perceived to mimic marriage" -- the state-sanctioned ceremonies.

Ms Argent said the government's stance on gay rights made her ashamed to be a Queenslander.

Letters released under Right to Information revealed the Archbishop wrote to all Liberal National Party MPs urging them to repeal the entire civil union legislation.

Other letters from religious leaders show the Newman government was lobbied by multiple groups over the changes.

Queensland Family Voice Australia state officer Geoffrey Bullock wrote to Mr Newman on June 21 -- after the changes were introduced but before they were passed by parliament -- urging the government to scrap entirely the civil partnership act.

"There was plenty of notice before the election that repeal of the Civil Partnerships Act was a distinct possibility, so same sex couples cannot claim they were not warned," he said.

He also raised homosexual behaviour as being linked to "serious health risks", noting the blood bank excluded men who had same-sex sexual contact in the previous 12 months.

A month later Mr Newman replied to Mr Bullock, saying there were arguments on both sides but the government decided to repeal the provisions "that could be seen to mimic marriage" while keeping couples' rights to register their relationships. 

"Civil partnership is an issue that was used as a political tool by the former government during the March election," Mr Newman said.