Penny Wong Just Demolished The Plebiscite In A Powerful Speech
“Have a read of some of the things that are said about us and our families, and then come back here and tell us this is a unifying moment.”
Earlier today, when the Australian Senate rejected the Government’s proposal of a compulsory plebiscite on marriage equality for a second time, a number of Senators took the opportunity to make reasoned, compassionate speeches on why a plebiscite is a terrible idea.
Amongst those speeches, Penny Wong’s stood out. You could hear a pin drop as the Labor Senator launched an impassioned and personal account of just how harmful a public debate on marriage equality will be for LGBTIQ+ families and kids, even without a plebiscite to inflame tensions.
“Have a read of some of the things that are said about us and our families,” she said, “and then come back here and tell us this is a unifying moment.”
“The Australian Christian Lobby described our children as a Stolen Generation…[a plebiscite is] exposing our children to that kind of hatred. And I wouldn’t mind so much, if you were prepared to speak out on it. If the Prime Minister were prepared to stand up and say that is wrong.”
Frankly, it’s hard to watch the video below without crying. I can’t imagine watching it and coming away still supporting a postal plebiscite, though the government is doing just that.