As you would be aware, I am a supporter of Marriage Equality. I believe everyone has the equal right to love and marry the person of their choice. Today, I publish my open letter in support of Australian Marriage Equality and I hope that many of you do too, using that link. You can also donate your support here
I, Tania Bannister, the undersigned Australian
celebrant, write to express my support for Marriage Equality.
Australian celebrants are privileged to share in a
unique celebration of love when couples make formal and legal commitments to
each other. We can see that the joy of the moment extends far beyond the couple
making the commitment and also includes their families, friends and
communities.
In contemporary Australia, however, some couples are
denied the opportunity to share the joy of this moment. As marriage equality is
not recognised, couples in same-sex relationships do not enjoy the same rights
and are not treated with the same dignity as other Australians.
As a celebrant, I believe I have an important role to
play in promoting inclusion and tolerance. I support diversity in society and
recognise the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex
(LGBTI) Australians to marry. Denying celebrants the ability to marry same-sex
couples also impinges on our individual freedom.
I believe the rights and liberties of all individuals
are sacrosanct. They are essential in the creation of a healthy, harmonious and
open society. An equitable society, free of discrimination, allows all members
to function at their best. Legalised discrimination in one area allows
discrimination to flourish in all areas.
Australia is a robust democracy with a proud history
of social reform. This should continue, with all citizens being treated
equally, including those who are currently excluded from the institution of
marriage.
Australians are increasingly supportive of marriage
equality, with a recent Crosby Textor survey showing seventy-two percent of
Australians are in favour of same sex couples marrying. This overwhelming level
of support should be reflected with legal change.
Globally, nineteen countries have passed laws to allow
same sex marriage, including countries that are culturally similar to ours such
as New Zealand and Great Britain. These countries passed this important reform
with a lower level of public support for marriage equality than exists in
Australia right now. In the United States, thirty-seven states and the District
of Columbia have legalised same sex marriage.
On May 22nd, the Republic of Ireland held a
referendum to sanction same sex marriage. A Yes vote was supported by the
Government, all major political parties and the voters themselves.
In June of this year, the U.S. Supreme court is likely
to return a judgement in favour of legalising same-sex marriage across that
nation.
These two events will see Australia isolated amongst
countries where English is spoken as a first language as the last nation to recognise
equal marriage rights.
Marriage is a celebration that joins people together
and denying same-sex couples this opportunity limits us as a society. Equal
Marriage is the only truly fair. It will create a climate where the bonds
of love and commitment are recognised equally and celebrated widely.
The ability to make equal commitments is fair and
just. Discrimination is not.
Yours faithfully,
Tania Bannister
Authorised Civil Celebrant
