Why Voting "No" Is Voting Against Human Rights.
The last few weeks have been a tense time for anyone involved in the marriage equality debate. I can't imagine the hurt of those whose fate to marry their loved ones is in the hands of their nation. A nation that is deciding whether same sex couples should have the same rights as heterosexual couples. While some people feel they have to ask their partners parents if they approve of their marriage, some are having to ask for the permission from the whole of Australia for them to get legally married.
Same sex couples aren't afforded the same rights as heterosexual couples. It's unfair and discriminatory, there's absolutely no way we can ignore or justify this. But unfortunately, I've seen an alarming amount of post suggesting that it's "OK" to vote "No" on the plebiscite; whether it's in the name of preserving marriage as we know it now, religious beliefs or just plain bigotry. I've seen people playing God in the name of saving the sanctity of marriage, but in doing so they are deciding that a group of people are not valuable enough to receive the same rights as them.
The idea that voting "No" will have no further implications is an extremely weak notion. As soon as you decide that taking away someone's human rights is an "OK" thing to do, it's evident that we have a bigger problem on our hands.
In no way, is voting "No" OK.
By voting "No" you are not only voting towards a hurtful and hateful environment for the Australian LGBTQI+ communitity, but you are voting to take away their human rights. In the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, article 16 states that everyone has the right to marry. It has no mention of sexuality or what genitals you and your partner need to have to be considered human enough to have human rights. Marriage IS and will always be a human right, this isn't something we can argue about.
Voting "Yes" isn't just showing your support, it's giving Australian LGBTQI+ people the basic human rights they deserve. Giving someone equal rights doesn't take away from others, it's saying that other peoples lives are just as valuable as yours.
Voting "No" is not okay. Voting against human rights should never be justified, nor should it be tolerated. This is not a debate on religious comfortability or keeping marriage between men and women; this is the fight for everyone to have equal human rights. We should all be fighting for marriage equality, because to say no to it, is to deny the LGBTQI+ community of their human rights.
