An Open Letter to the Australian House of Representatives

A reader shares her thoughts.

An Open Letter to the Australian House of Representatives:

On September 19 2012, you made a mistake.

What should have been an opportunity for positive change is now a black stain on the pages of Australian politics. It could have been a long-overdue decision to end the blatant discrimination thinly veiled as law that affects those I love.

Amongst those affected are my family, friends and colleagues. Nurses and doctors who save the lives of those we care about. Firemen and police officers who risk their own lives for you and I. Respected politicians, community volunteers, judges and magistrates. Some of them are even family members of your own.

Instead, we heard disgusting and repugnant statements that liken their love to beastiality.

Julia, you spoke of the violent protests in Sydney just days ago as being un-Australian. Well I'm beginning to wonder what it even means to BE Australian. In a country where we supposedly value equality, respect, and the concept of a "fair go" - right now to the rest of the world we must look like damn fools.

To those of you amongst us who identify as gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, transsexual and transgender: You are in every way my equal. I am sorry, on behalf of those who agree, (and there's plenty of us), that today was not the day on which that equality was recognized.

Signing off with a heavy heart,

Emma Hilton
Sydney, NSW