Christian Majority Supports Equality
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Coming out on film southern page 18 Australia’s leading gay and lesbian newspaper Est. 2008 www.starobserver.com.au Issue 148 Thursday 18 August 2011 Christian majority supports equality >> NATIONAL Marriage lobby group, and as someone who ANDREW M. POTTS is an ordained minister with a same gendered partner, I strongly support the right of GLBTI A new national opinion poll has found a majority people to marry,” Blackwood Uniting Church of Australian Christians support same-sex minister Leanne Jenski said. couples being allowed to marry. “Be assured there are many Christians out The Galaxy poll, released on the same day as there who stand in solidarity with us.” right wing Christian groups rallied in Canberra, Broadcaster, Exodus Foundation founder found 53 percent of Australians who identify as and Ashfield Uniting Church minister Bill Crews Christian support same-sex marriage, while only wrote, “Today in Australia we all live in a secular 41 percent oppose it. Further, 67 percent of those non-discriminatory society. Gay couples should with no religion were supporters. be as free to marry as any other human couple. The poll was conducted in early August “If people wish to be married within a using a sample of 1,060 respondents and had a religious or spiritual institution’s framework calculated margin of error of 2 percent. then they should accept the rites and rules of that Australian Marriage Equality (AME) institution. However it is the state that legitimises spokesman Malcolm McPherson said the poll all marriages.” showed church leaders who opposed same- Rowland Croucher of John Mark Ministries, sex marriage were not representing the views of one of the most influential Baptists in Australia, most Australian Christians. also backed marriage equality. “Groups like the Australian Christian Lobby “How can I, a heterosexual who’s been very who oppose marriage equality are entitled to happily married for 50 years, tell anyone else they their views, but they do not represent the majority don’t have the right to form a loving, committed, of Australian Christians”, McPherson said. lifelong union and enjoy the fruits of marriage as “Clearly most Australian Christians believe I have done?” he wrote. same-sex marriage is consistent with Christian “Marriage is not a club to be restricted to some values like love, compassion and fidelity.” - like the Gospel, it is a blessing to be shared.” Previous polling has shown that three out of Other clergy to make statements of support four Australians believe same-sex marriage will were Lilydale Baptist Church pastor Matt Glover, be legalised in Australia. Uniting Canberra minister Roger Munson, Fr The news came a day after a group of Dave Smith of Holy Trinity Church at Dulwich WINNER: Luke Moon accepts his prize as this year’s Laird Leatherman. Photo: Ari Neubauer prominent Australian Christian clergy made Hill, and Tasmanian Uniting Church minister public their support for same-sex marriage. David Hunnerup. The seven clergy from the Uniting, Baptist The Unitarians, Quakers and Metropolitan Confident win for leather champ and Anglican churches made their statements Community Church support same-sex marriage >> VICTORIA to coincide with the launch of a new Christian at a denominational level in Australia, while the campaign for marriage equality, through which Council of Progressive Rabbis of Australia, Asia Luke Moon has won the Laird Hotel’s Leatherman competition for 2011. The event was part of the Laird’s A Week of Leather more than 9400 Australian Christians have sent and New Zealand put their support for marriage which raised more than $14,000 for the Victorian AIDS Council’s David Williams Fund and JOY 94.9. The week ended with a letters to their MPs. equality on the record in June. sold out Code Black leather party. “As the founder of the Christians For Gay INFO: Visit www.christians4equality.com.au MORE PICS: Page 25 Community Connections PEP Information LINE NEWS A: The Alfred, Commercial Rd, Prahran P: 1800 889 887 W: www.getpep.info starobserver.com.au Argonauts Moral turn 10 police 25 DANCE CATS STUDIO 13 target muppets AUSTRALIA’S FIRST Start training now Hats AND ONforLY the DEDICATEDMidsumma Off for GLBTQISame DANCE Sex Dancesports! 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Thanks as a couple in an unusual to Love Films, we have got 10 copies of the romance, saw a swag of newly-released DVD to give away. For your positive reviews for their chance to win, visit the giveaways section performances. Prahran Studio - 318 Chapel St (next to Hungry Jacks) of our website and enter your details. Sun 2pm Beginners Lvl 1 & 2 Ballroom & Latin HOW TO ENTER: Sun 3pm Intermediate Ballroom & Latin For your chance to enter, just head to the giveaways section of our website and enter your details. Fees: $15 / $55 x 6 classes for new students. Starts 8 May – for a 12 week trial period, start at any time, no partner necessary! ALL CLASSES - ADULTS ONLY funeral directors Peter Robertson starobserver.com.au ❘ Thursday 18 August 2011 2 SATFRI VAC A poster competition to promote World AIDS Day (WAD) is now open. Aimed at young artists and designers, entrants must come up with a winning design to be NEWS 0230 used publicly to promote WAD. Entries close September 2. Prizes up for grabs. Download an information pack from the VAC website at www.vicaids.asn.au starobserver.com.au SEPTEMBEROCTOBER Wong highlights IVF inequity >> NATIONAL be introduced to do that in the near future by DREW SHELDRICK any one of my Committee members.“ Legal recognition of same-sex parents also Finance Minister Penny Wong’s news that she remains an issue for the state. The same inquiry and partner Sophie Allouache are expecting found that, under South Australian law, if a a child has drawn attention to discriminatory married woman becomes pregnant through laws regarding access to IVF in South Australia. the use of assisted reproductive treatment with Currently in the state, only women who are donor sperm, her husband is treated as the medically infertile or who carry a risk of an legal father of the child and his name is placed inheritable disease can access donor sperm for on the child’s birth certificate. insemination. There is no similar presumption of parentage This means most lesbians using donor sperm for same-sex co-parents under state law. must travel interstate, usually NSW, Victoria This discrimination was found to lead to or the ACT. It is not known where Wong and difficulties for a same-sex co-parent including Allouche had IVF treatment. not easily being able to enrol the child at The Social Development Committee – a school or approve school excursions. Nor can standing committee of the South Australian they legally give permission for the child to be Killer singer hits GH Parliament – completed an inquiry into same- treated in a medical emergency. >> MUSIC sex parenting this year. It concluded that IVF South Australian Greens MLC Tammy laws which precluded lesbian couples from Franks told the Star Observer she’d support Sophie Ellis Bextor – the songstress behind Murder On accessing IVF clinics needed to be changed. legislation to change the current laws to allow The Dancefloor and Heartbreak Make Me a Dancer Out Labor MLC Ian Hunter said as a result of same-sex couples to access the technology. – is heading to Melbourne. The porcelain-skinned the committee findings, a new amendment bill “There should be no discrimination of this British beauty will perform a special show featuring her has been drawn up and is likely to be presented sort in regards to reproductive technology,” greatest hits at the GH on Saturday, October 1. Just try to parliament in the next 12 months. she said. “Obviously it’s a bit hard for a Greens and keep the gays away! “This discriminatory provision in the IVF member to get legislation on these things up, legislation must be changed,” Hunter said. “The it should come from the Government and I’d INFO: GH Hotel (03) 9534 4189 / [email protected] Social Development Committee’s draft bill may support it if it did.” starobserver.com.au ❘ Thursday 18 August 2011 3 ABORIGINAL ART AUCTION IMMEDIATE LIQUIDATION DIRECT FROM CENTRAL AUSTRALIA Placed under instructions by a prominent central Australian Aboriginal art dealer due to tough economic and retail conditions, compounded by a strong Australian dollar which has greatly affected tourism in the Northern Territory, Charleston’s Fine Art Auctions have been appointed to liquidate by public auction a substantial collection of fi ne Indigenous paintings by the most collectable artists in the country with MANY PIECES UNRESERVED! With other entries, the collection includes over 170 artworks! MANY PAINTINGS