Media Release

Tuesday June 13th 2017

 

 

 

Equality advocates have dismissed claims by the Catholic Bishops Conference that Christians will face discrimination and vilification if same-sex couples are allowed to marry.

 

The claim was made in a submission to the current parliamentary inquiry into religious freedom.

 

just.equal spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said,

 

"The Catholic Bishops want anti-discrimination laws to be watered down to allow businesses to turn away same-sex partners."

 

"This is as unacceptable as allowing businesses to turn away people because they are Indigenous, Asian or Muslim."

 

"The Bishops' claim there has been widespread discrimination against Christians in countries with marriage equality is desperate fear-mongering not borne out by the facts."

 

"We believe religious ministers should retain their legal right to marry whoever they want in their own churches, temples or mosques, but this right to should not spill into services provided by businesses."

 

Mr Croome said the LGBTI community, and Australians more broadly, oppose legalising refusal of service.

 

"In January, the largest survey of LGBTI Australians ever conducted found almost 90% opposed laws allowing services to be refused to same-sex couples and were willing to wait for marriage equality if refusal-of-service laws were the only way it could occur under this Government."

 

"A Galaxy poll conducted in February found 65% of Australians oppose laws that allow businesses to turn away same-sex couples."

 

"The message is clear, Australians want same-sex couples to be treated as fully equal, with no caveats or qualifications."

 

For more information on the LGBTI community survey: https://ymlp.com/zjwJBd

For more information on the Galaxy poll: https://ymlp.com/zJO151

For a news report on the Bishop's claims: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/christian-groups-fear-discrimination-for-rejecting-gay-marriage-business/news-story/4e4d53be1f2549d8796027104effa6b4

For a copy of this media release on the web click here.