GenQ - For the not so straight individual

In a recent press conference, the PM has stated he will overturn the ACT Civil union bill.

WE NEED YOUR HELP!!

The ACT Chief Minister has been receiving large amounts of emails and currently has only about 20% supporting the ACT Govt and 80% against and we know how organised our opposition is. Remember the famous 13,000 to 100 on the s-s marriage amendment! We need to put our voice behind the ACT people and the ACT Government!

Please let the federal politician's know that those who support their discimnatory actions are in fact in the minority and that most fair-minded Australia's do support recognising same-sex relationships and removing discrimination.

Please personalise the message if you can it gives it more weight with politicians than a template letter. If you are feeling despondent read some of the great media coverage
we have been getting. http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2006/s1604320.htm

Email addresses Politicians to Send the letters to are at the bottom of this email - apologies if we have missed off any key Vic people = please pass it on to them

EXAMPLE LETTER:

Dear Sir/Madam,

The Australian federal government, through public statements made by the Prime Minister, John Howard MP, and the Attorney-General, Philip Ruddock MP, has previously gone on the record to state that it would not interfere with a State or Territory's decision to enact civil union legislation. And yet today I read that it is threatening to overturn the Australian Capital Territory (ACT's) Civil Unions Bill
2006. Can you please explain going back on your express promise?

The Civil Unions Bill (ACT) 2006 specifically states that a civil union is NOT a marriage. The Civil Unions Bill (ACT) 2006 was drafted with the intention of giving equal rights and recognition to all committed and consensual relationships in the ACT in terms of ACT law. Can you please explain why you have a problem with this?

It is surely clear to the Federal Government that the Civil Unions Bill (ACT) 2006 only has the power/ability to end discrimination against same sex couples in terms of ACT law and in the ACT jurisdiction. It does not effect Commonwealth law nor does it purport to extend beyond the ACT's jurisdiction. An ACT civil union is not a 'marriage' therefore it does not conflict with federal law, ie the Marriage Act, under the powers delegated to federal government in the Constitution. Any steps that the Federal Government takes to
overturn this legislation are a blatant abuse of their powers relating to Territory governance.

By claiming that the Civil Union Bill is 'marriage by another name' the Federal Government is conveniently glossing over the discrimination that couples undertaking a civil union in the ACT would still suffer under federal law. As long as the Federal
Government refuses to recognise same-sex relationships in federally legislated areas like Taxation, Superannuation and Social Security, a State or Territory-based Civil Union WILL NEVER be 'marriage by another name' because a couple who undertakes a Civil Union will not be entitled to the rights enjoyed by married couples under federal
law. Such discrimination will remain regardless of whether or not the Civil Union ceremony is performed by a Commonwealth Marriage Celebrant.

I wonder how you personally justify treating myself and others in the community as second class citizens. I pay taxes and I am a law abiding productive citizen. And yet my partner and I cannot have our relationship legally recognised as you and your wife do - please give me a decent answer as to why that sad fact fact remains under your
government. This government is not just shutting out the gay and lesbian community with its actions in opposing the Civil Unions Bill (ACT) 2006. It is insulting gay and lesbian people's friends and family who love and support them. This adds up to a lot more people than you imagine, I suspect.

I sincerely hope you reconsider your threat against the ACT bill on civil unions.

NAME
ADDRESS
DATE

ACT Govt
stanhope@act.gov.au
stefaniak@parliament.act.gov.au
smyth@parliament.act.gov.au

Federal:
To send to PM and Ruddock, please cut and paste your letter into the online forms on their websites, the links are here:
https://www.ag.gov.au/agd/www/ministerruddockfeedback.nsf/Feedback
http://www.pm.gov.au/email.cfm

Kim.Beazley.MP@aph.gov.au
Warren.Entsch.MP@aph.gov.au
Mal.Washer.MP@aph.gov.au
Peter.Lindsay.MP@aph.gov.au
J.Moylan.MP@aph.gov.au
P.Georgiou.MP@aph.gov.au
Malcolm.Turnbull.MP@aph.gov.au
senator.wong@aph.gov.au