Australian PM Puts Personal Views Ahead of Equality Under the Law

Apparently, much like Barack Obama has done in terms of marriage equality here in the USA, Australian prime minister Julia Gillard, says that same sex marriage is contrary to her upbringing - even though she professes to be an atheist. I find it disturbing that leaders of nations that profess to (1) guaranty equality to all citizens and (2) grant religious freedom to all continue to place their personal views - religious or otherwise - ahead of these very doctrines. In Obama's case (as most lately pronounced) religion seems to be the basis for his prejudice, while Gillard cites her "old-fashioned upbringing in a “quite conservative family” as justification for discrimination under the civil laws. I suspect Obama would take great umbrage with anyone who in this day and age tried to cite the Bible as justification for racial inequality, yet he cannot see that he is engaging in equivalent behavior. As for Gillard, would she accept a social position that women should not work outside the home or have a place in politics? The Australian looks at Gillard's comments. Here are some highlights:
*
JULIA Gillard has revealed herself to be a cultural traditionalist, indicating she will oppose moves by the Greens for euthanasia and gay marriage laws and that she believes it is important for people to understand the Bible- despite the fact she is an atheist.
*
Asked about her attitudes on social issues, Ms Gillard harked back to her upbringing in Adelaide and agreed that she was a "cultural traditionalist". . . . On gay marriage, Ms Gillard said: "I do find myself on the conservative side in this question."

Declaring there were "some important things from our past that need to continue to be part of our present and part of our future", Ms Gillard said her view was that the Marriage Act - and marriage being between a man and woman - "has a special status".
*
Ms Gillard said it was important for people to understand their Bible stories "not because I'm an advocate of religion - clearly I'm not - but once again, what comes from the Bible has formed such an important part of our culture".
*
The Prime Minister's comments come before the Australian Marriage Equality group releases today a paper saying an extra $742 million could be pumped into the economy by weddings alone, with another $7m in license fees to be collected by the states.
*
The paper says that legal discrimination against gay and lesbian people has been shown to have an adverse and costly impact on their mental and physical health. "Marriage is an effective welfare safety net, with married partners relying less on government in times of personal crisis than unmarried partners or singles," it says.