A post about Security

Within a couple of short months Australians will get the chance to vote on marriage equality. The process is flawed. The process has been cynically manipulated by political parties. Participation in the process is not compulsory and the results are non-binding in law. The lead up and probably the aftermath to the vote will almost certainly see (yet more) hurtful, outrageous and untrue claims and slurs that denigrate people who are someone's son, daughter, friend, lover, partner and colleague.

Nevertheless this is an incredibly important vote. I encourage you to participate by voting if you are eligible. I am voting "Yes" to Marriage Equality and I encourage you to do the same. I want to explain why this is so.

I consider myself a very lucky person. I am married and my marriage is recognised under law, giving me and my family rights and recognition. As a married person I enjoy not only the support of my partner and her family, but I also enjoy the unquestioned support and recognition of our relationship from friends, personal acquaintances, colleagues, business acquaintances, and all those random folk who I meet during the execution of everyday life; from taxi drivers to baristas with whom I might strike up a simple conversation about life, the universe and everything. When we got married some 20+ years ago we didn't have to jump through loops to make it so - we made a decision as a committed couple and a few forms, a ceremony and little bit of cash later we were officially declared "married in the eyes of the law".

In short - not only have I entered into a committed and recognised relationship with my chosen partner, I did so with relative ease in the execution, and our way of living has been formally recognised as well as socially accepted universally by all we meet.

This gives me an incredible sense of security.

As far as I am concerned all Australians ought to have the same opportunities that I have in this regard. Sexual preference and gender identity are not factors that have any relevance whatsoever toward the ability to enter into a committed relationship and ought not to have any relevance in law with regards to the right to be treated equally.

Marriage equality extends the security I enjoy under law to all my fellow citizens. Without it we are lessened as a country. Without it the happiness of important people who are all someone's child, perhaps someone's parent, perhaps your colleague or mine suffers.

I will vote "Yes" to marriage equality. I will put aside all my disgust at the political process and shenanigans that have brought us to this flawed way of executing the process and focus on what is most important - the outcome.

Securing Equal Rights for all my fellow Australians deserves no less.