MP rallies for gay rights

By Tania Martin
INDEPENDENT Silvan Province MP Andrew Olexander spoke at a rally on the weekend calling for the State Government to support legislation on the introduction of civil unions for gay and lesbian couples.
Mr Olexander said that more than 2500 people showed support for the bill at a rally on the steps of State Parliament on Sunday.
He said the legislation would enable same sex marriages to be recognised as a civil union.
Mr Olexander said the ball was now in Mr Bracks’s court to allow a vote in Parliament on the bill.
“It is now up to Mr Bracks and I just have to wait and see if he will allow a vote on the bill and end years of discrimination against gay and lesbian people,” Mr Olexander said.
Mr Olexander said the bill had gained significant support from all Victorians including a large response from his constituents in the Silvan Province.
He said after sending out more than 10,000 newsletters on the legislation in the Silvan Province, he only received one letter opposing the bill.
“Most independently published opinion polls show that there is a strong majority of support for civil unions in Australia and Victoria, which reflects the general view of the community,” he said.
Mr Olexander said the legislation was simply about giving gay and lesbian couples fair and equal rights where marriage is concerned.
Monbulk MP James Merlino said The Bracks Government was committed to ensuring that all Victorians have equal access to justice.
However, Mr Merlino said it was disingenuous of Andrew Olexander to be raising the issue of discrimination when he does not acknowledge the fact that in 2000/2001 the Government introduced changes to remove discrimination against same-sex couples from more than 50 pieces of Victorian law, covering areas like wills, medical treatment, property transfers and state superannuation rights.
Mr Merlino said the State Government has also amended the Equal Opportunity Act to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
He said the State Government was not considering enacting legislation regarding same sex civil unions.
“I have and will continue to support legislation that treats everyone equally in terms of entitlements and legal rights.
“However, I personally believe that marriage is a union between a man and a woman,” he said.