Australian Sen. Bridget McKenzie faced a tough question on same-sex marriage from her own gay brother on ABC’s Q&A on Monday. Sen. McKenzie is against same-sex marriage and was asked, along with the rest of the panel, whether a nationwide vote on the issue is worth the cost and potential emotional and mental health outcomes which would likely befall the LGBTQ community.
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“Given the majority of parliamentarians and Australians now support marriage equality, is a $160 million plebiscite necessary, and what impact do you think the debate will have on the emotional wellbeing of gays and lesbians like me?” Alastair McKenzie asked the panel.
“I think it will only be damaging if all of us as Australians choose to actually not respect each other’s views in this particular debate,” Sen. McKenzie said. “I believe it is a conscience issue, and that the definition of marriage is between a man and a woman. Polls would suggest I’m in the minority.”
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She also said she believes the current situation puts herself, and other lawmakers who agree with her, in a difficult situation and that a vote could resolve that issue.
“What I think is that there is tension for some MPs like myself on both sides of the aisle, between our desire to respect the sovereign will of the Australian people and our conscience in a representative democracy,” she said.
Her brother previously criticized her views in an op-ed where he called her views “extremely hurtful.”
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“Public statements promoting inequity only serve to perpetuate the isolation and marginalize those youths questioning their sexuality,” he wrote. “Growing up in the country can be tough and isolating, growing up gay in the country in the 1990s was horrific. Given her own story and connection, I had hoped to see a more courageous and compassionate response.”
Watch video of the exchange below.
Is a $160m plebiscite necessary & what impact do you think the debate will have? Our #QandA panel responds https://t.co/flpBk2EkWr
— ABC Q&A (@QandA) September 12, 2016
Mack
Seems to me the anti same sex marriage people are trying to stop the vote because they’ll lose. If it cost so much to have the vote, then perhaps they should do their jobs and pass legislation to make it legal and save the money. But you know and I know the reason why they won’t do that is because of the religious dimwits.
Ukin Blome
Look behind the curtain of the anti same sex marriage people and you will find pedophiles abusing children and threatening them to keep quiet about it or they will harm them.
James
What a rotten sister.
Rimminit
“Expressing your conscience” = denying a minority their unalienable right of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”; a constitutional right.
damon459
Rimminit those are rights United States citizens enjoy, not Australians….
DCguy
She’a bigot, no different from a KKK member.
Sluggo2007
She’s probably against ALL marriage because nobody is gonna marry her ugly ass.
LucasH
This really makes my blood boil. Here she is asking that people “respect” her views, while showing a total LACK of respect for the dignity of same-sex couples. Disgusting, vile hypocrisy. Even in her own brother’s face, she will say that he does not deserve the same rights as everyone else. Disgusting.
He BGB
Saying the “definition” of marriage is between a man and a woman…many definitions have to be updated throughout history, lady, so your argument doesn’t hold water. What something was defined in the 16th century might mean something more inclusive today. And don’t bring up religion because that is magical thinking. Not saying it’s wrong or right but it is based on faith.
robho3
I ah e a sister with the same view and she’s always saying ‘ I the bible I says marriage is between a man and a woman’. Every time she says that I just want to Vomit on her. Too bad you can’t choose your family.
I think that gay marriage will pass in Australia and I’m surprised it hasn’t years ago as Australians seem much more enlightened. Then us blokes in the USA.
Alistair Wiseman
@robho3:
“Enlightened” or not, “…us blokes in the USA” did not vote on gay marriage. Nine unelected Supreme Court Justices, not the American people, determined the fate of gay marriage in the United States.