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A newly-elected Senator from Western Australia, whose partner is a transgender male, spoke out strongly in favour of same-sex marriage during her inaugural speech in the federal parliament last week.
Labor Senator Louise Pratt also spoke of the pressing need to address issues related to gender identity in Australian law.
“I look forward to a time when we have removed at a federal level all discrimination on the grounds of gender identity and sexuality,” she said. “A time when my partner isn’t denied a passport because his gender’s not recognised under our laws; when my friends’ children all enjoy the same rights and protections under Commonwealth law, regardless of whether their parents are straight or gay; and a time when my gay and lesbian friends who wish to be legally married can be.”
Pratt told MCV that even though she is bound by the Labor caucus’ official position on same-sex marriage (i.e., opposing the legalisation of marriage for same-sex couples), she cannot help but feel “directly affected by those laws”.
“I had to take the opportunity in my first speech to highlight the key issues for same-sex couples around Australia,” she said. “I think people understand that someone in my position would have these views.”
The day after making her maiden speech, Pratt spoke on the JOY 94.9 FM program The Rainbow Report about the speech and issues related to it. During the interview she fielded a question that contrasted her public support for same-sex marriage with recent comments by federal Labor colleague, lesbian MP Penny Wong, who said during an ABC television appearance last month that she did not support same-sex marriage.
In response to the question, Pratt told JOY she and Wong come from “different places in politics … I have cut my teeth on gay and lesbian activism.”
This week, however, Pratt was quick to tell MCV that Wong has “served us well in her advocacy on gay rights issues”.
LGBT rights groups have welcomed Pratt’s comments.
Australian Marriage Equality spokesperson Sharon Dane praised Pratt’s commitment to same-sex marriage, saying “equal marriage can no longer be swept under the political carpet.”
“Senator Pratt's endorsement of equality sends a strong message to the Labor Government that support for reform exists in its own ranks as well as the wider community,” Dane said.
Martine Delaney, of the Australian Coalition for Equality, applauded Pratt’s comments about gender identity, saying that reform was urgently needed in areas like passport recognition.
“The issue of transgender identity documentation has been on the agenda of the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General for some years, with no commitment shown to its resolution,” Delaney said.
“We congratulate Louise Pratt for sending a strong message to the Government that members of the Labor Party care strongly about equality for transgender people. We look forward to working with Senator Pratt and her colleagues to ensure greater recognition of transgender human rights.”
The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission is currently conducting an inquiry into discrimination faced by transgender Australians.
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