Why the Yes case in the SSM postal survey is personal for Jim Marsden

The Same Sex Marriage postal survey is deeply personal for JIM MARSDEN, the senior partner of Marsdens Law Group, who has written a letter to friends and clients asking them to support the Yes case:

I am writing to you on a subject that is close to my heart and very close to my family – marriage equality.

I am writing to you to urge you to vote “YES”.

Whilst my position is probably obvious and predictable, I accept that not everybody has the same view as me.

I respect other people’s views and positions, a lot, but not all, of which were probably formed from similar backgrounds to my own.

In 1968, I had just finished 12 years of Catholic education and 18 years of an upbringing in what was then a county town – Campbelltown.

I was entitled to vote.

If somebody asked me then about marriage equality, I would simply have said “why, what do you mean, what for?”

At that stage, I had little knowledge of the existence of a gay community.

I must admit though, in hindsight, I knew there were gay members of our local community and the broader community that because of the societal view (and in the case of males, the law) had hidden it during their lives and many of them until the day they died.

Now almost 50 years later, with a much more open and accepting society, I have a different view.

You would know that my late brother, John Marsden, was a gay man who kept this hidden for many years because of what he perceived as an adverse societal view of same-sex relationships.

I also have two lesbian sisters.

The question of whether or not same-sex couples should be given the same rights and recognition as heterosexual couples to me is fairly simple.

It is a question of fairness, equality and of giving all Australians a fair go.

I am not urging a yes vote in any way to change our values.

I am urging a yes vote to recognise those values.

Think about this: a successful no vote will prolong the agony of discrimination for those that have suffered it their entire lives.

A no vote does not in any way improve the lives of anyone else.

[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]On the other hand, a successful yes vote will make the lives of so many people so much better.[/social_quote]

Full recognition by their fellow Australians.

At the same time, a yes vote will not hurt anyone else in the community.

I now have five grandchildren all under nine years of age. I don’t know whether or not they are heterosexual and will, therefore, have the right to marry their loved one.

I can tell you one thing, however, that if there is a gay kid amongst my grandchildren, I will love him or her as much as the others.

I’m sure you would if placed in the same situation.

I would dread, however, being the one to tell him or her that he or she can’t marry the person he or she loves like his siblings and indeed the rest of his generation.

There are many arguments that can be had and many reasonable discussions that can be entered.

I can assure you that a yes vote will not impact on freedom of religion and freedom of speech.

I can assure you just as much that a no vote will continue to impact on those kids who were born differently to you and me.

On the other hand, a yes vote will free them from a lifetime of discrimination.

♦ The South West Voice is happy to publish reasoned arguments from both the Yes and the No camps. Email your contributions of 500 words or less to erickontos@southwestvoice.com.au