Gay Australian cabinet minister opposes gay marriage.

[WillParkinson]

Gay Australian cabinet minister opposes gay marriage. Australian cabinet minister Penny Wong has refused to offer support for same-sex marriage.

In an interview with ABC television, Wong, who is openly gay, spoke out about experiences with race and sexual prejudices, but would not offer her views the issue. When asked if she would support a legislation for marriage equality, she said: I’ve made quite a number of comments on this issue. I appreciate your interest, but I’m here today to talk about using water wisely here in Western Australia.”

In a separate interview with Channel Ten television, Wong offered

“The party’s position is very clear and that is an institution between a man and woman,” she said. “I do respect the fact that’s how people view the institution.”

Although Wong declined to offer a statement of support for gay marriage, in the past, she has supported legislation to grant same-sex couples equal rights concerning taxation, healthcare, and retirement benefits.

http://www.365gay.com/uncategorized/tues-watercooler-nom-sign-calls-for-murder-of-gay-couples/

[joeybee12]

1. Wow...great song and dance...

...now try and be honest...I know, asking a lot from a politician.

[GodlessBiker]

2. Typical politician. Pitiful

[demigoddess]

3. oh god

:banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

is there no hope for humanity??

[sui generis]

4. yeah well, take away her politician card

it's a lot easier to do that with your vote than to take away someone's gay card. There really does need to be an IQ test to get in our club though.

[Better Today]

5. Perhaps I don't understand Aussie politics, but

In the ABC interview, it seems she was quite clear that she wouldn't be drawn into a topic which was not what she was there to discuss, I respect that.

In the Channel 10 interview, it sounds like she was speaking as a cabinet minister should, which is to say she is to comment on her party's and her government's current rules/regs/etc, rather than her own opinion. I think the article specifically mentions that when she was in a position to have an individual opinion and to support that opinion, she did in fact support equal rights, if not "marriage" per se.

Again, I don't know enough about Aussie politics, but this seems basically okay to me, given her current position.