Senator Ricky Muir Announces His Support For Marriage Equality, Seems Like An A+ Guy

Victorian Motoring Enthusiast Party Senator Ricky Muir has established himself as a pretty decent and down-to-earth guy; his maiden speech in the Senate was lauded as a humble and refreshing first appearance, and in March he gave a candid and eloquent interview about the difficulties young people face in finding stable work, using himself as an example.

Now he’s come out in favour of marriage equality, and he’s getting an exceptionally warm reception. On Wednesday night Muir gave a speech at an information night in the small east Victorian town of Heyfield, hosted by mental health advocacy group Reach Out Australia, in which he took the opportunity to put his support for marriage equality in the record, and explain why. Muir’s speech has since received widespread praise online.

“Marriage equality is an issue that seems to arise around election cycles and it would seem the hopes, aspirations and wellbeing of many Australians are used for political point scoring.

“This alone is the reason I have left my personal views on this issue quiet until now. I have decided to come forward and put my view on the record this evening.

“It is said that country people are not yet ready for this change but people, many rural folk of all different backgrounds, tell me that they are. These are people like myself.

“I do not think it is up to large lobby groups, or political parties to tell us what we are or are not ready for. The reality is, the majority of people I have spoken to or have contacted me seem to overwhelmingly accept the lifestyle of others and do not feel threatened by a change to the Marriage Act.

“We know people can be attracted to the same sex through no choice of their own and that they are born this way. We know that people hold onto this feeling and even try to hide it for many years, even a whole lifetime. We know that some homosexual people force themselves into being in a heterosexual relationship which can cause marital issues further down the line.

“We know that the way same sex couples are still at times perceived in a way in public that can cause great amounts of stress and depression. But does it really affect any of us if the Marriage Act is amended to allow marriage equity?

“In my view, no.

“…I am not a religious man, however I was raised around religion and some values sticked. If you can’t say something nice say nothing. Be respectful and forgiving.

“But mostly, one that always stands out to me is not to judge.

“…In conclusion, I am proud to be here and to be putting on the record my support of marriage equality.”

Muir explained that, as a politician with a particular interest in rural Victoria, the decision the announce his support in a small country town was a deliberate one: “Why here in Heyfield? Because I believe that a life here, or in the most remote areas of Australia, are just as important as a life anywhere else.”

He elaborated on his thoughts on Triple J’s Hack last night, highlighting the mental health of young people as one of his highest priorities.

Senator Ricky Muir tells @triplejHack the mental health of young ppl is why he’s voting for #MarriageEquaility. https://t.co/JpNTSTfgJx

— Alice Workman (@workmanalice) June 11, 2015

Muir joins fellow crossbenchers Dio Wang, David Leyonhjelm, Glenn Lazarus and Nick Xenophon in publicly supporting marriage equality, potentially providing vital numbers should a marriage bill come before the Senate. Lazarus has even promised to don a mankini in the Senate if Parliament continues to dance around the issue, which is kind of illustrative of how the Senate’s most unlikely politicians often seem to leave their more “profesisonal” colleagues in the major parties for dead when it comes to representing the people who voted for them. Onya, Ricky.