Current Media Releases WA Liberal Party's anti-gay agenda exposed -- again!
WA Liberal Party's anti-gay agenda exposed -- again!
Birney should now come clean on gay law reform rollback
11 September 2005
Gay and Lesbian Equality (WA) Inc. has called on WA Opposition Leader Matt Birney to come clean on his divisive plans to roll back gay and lesbian human rights in Western Australia.
GALE Convenor Rod Swift says Mr Birney's recent comments on parenting and adoption rights are out of step with the wider community.
"Mr Birney's beliefs that children need a mother and a father are not only unscientific, but are ignorant and offensive to gay and lesbian families, and also single parents trying to raise children," Mr Swift said.
GALE has challenged Mr Birney to explain whether the anti-gay 'Family First' position statement released by the Liberal Party in 2002 -- and soundly rejected by voters at the 2005 State Election -- is still the party's policy position on gays and lesbians.
"The position paper provided a terrifying insight into the hidden plans of the Liberal Party under the guise of protecting and strengthening families," Mr Swift said.
"This disgusting and grubby agenda shows that the WA Liberal party only has one thing on its mind -- dragging Western Australia back to the anti-gay dark ages."
"The Liberal Party should dump its irrational and unpopular gay law reform roll-back policy and join the rest of Western Australians in letting gay and lesbian citizens and families get on with their lives in peace."
GALE Vice Convenor Kelly Pilgrim-Byrne says that children deserve loving, nurturing, committed parents, irrespective of their sexuality.
"Sexuality has no bearing on successful parenting. More than 50 studies over the past two decades have shown children of gays and lesbians fair just as well emotionally and socially as children raised by heterosexuals," Ms Pilgrim-Byrne said.
"This gay couple have been subjected to the most rigorous scrutiny to determine their fitness to parent -- that's designed to protect the best interests of any child adopted to them."
"They have met the same criteria as heterosexual couples and now it will be the decision of relinquishing parents to decide if they will have a child placed with them."
GALE also invites Mr Birney to open a dialogue with the gay and lesbian community to better understand why the Liberal Party's views on gays are out of touch with the wider community.
"It is clear that the Liberal Party's petty roll-back policy has arisen due to their inability to liaise with the gay and lesbian community on important matters of equality that are supported by the wider community," Mr Swift said.
"We extend an invitation to Mr Birney and his colleagues in Opposition to meet with gay and lesbian families to learn more about why their short-sighted policy position is not supported by the majority of Western Australians."
A WestPoll conducted by The West Australian newspaper in December 2004 found that most people did not agree with the Liberal Party's election policy to roll back same-sex adoption rights.
MEDIA COMMENT:
Rod Swift GALE Convenor 0417 890 111
Kelly Pilgrim-Byrne GALE Vice Convenor 08 9490 5379
WESTPOLL RESULTS
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