Blog 3 – Problem Solving; Legalisation of Same-Sex Marriage
in Australia
Observe the world around you & consider a problem to be solved. Reflect
on the:
Problem: What needs to be solved?
Recognition
by law of same-sex marriage in Australia.
Same-sex partners can legally be considered de facto partners, and in
some states can have a civil union but they are still not legally allowed to
marry in Australia. Not being allowed to
marry takes away same-sex couples rights to relationship entitlements that a
married couple have access to.
Context: Describe the
problem space (e.g. political/cultural, usual practice, technical complexity)
54% of Australian
same-sex couples would marry if they had the choice. 80% support
that choice. 56% of same-sex de facto couples and 78% of same-sex civil partner
would prefer to marry if they had the choice (Australian Marriage Equality
2013).
Legalising same-sex marriage is in both a
political and cultural problem space; culturally, in failing to allow same-sex
marriage our federal law is sending a message to society that it is acceptable
to discriminate against a person because of their sexual orientation, and
suggests that same-sex partners are not capable of showing love and commitment
to one another via marriage. It excludes
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people from the long standing social
institution of marriage; the institution which provides health and wellbeing
benefits, and security for partners and children.
Politics is what is standing in the way of same-sex marriage being
legalised, it has been debated by politicians many times and the bill has been
voted down. The Greens party have
brought up the debate again in the House of Representatives bringing forward
his bill for equal marriage rights for same-sex couples (Kenny, M 2013). The
bill is trying to remove references to the definition of marriage as being
exclusively between a man and a women but would not require churches to perform
same-sex marriages unless they wanted to (Kenny, M 2013).
Religion also plays a part in the problem space for same-sex marriages
becoming legal. Some religious groups
believe marriage is the union of a man and a women and anything outside of that
is a sin.
Realities: Describe the practice space (e.g. public/private)
This problem occurs all throughout the world very publicly, but also
privately to many people. Some countries
/ states have passed laws already that allow same-sex couples to marry so we
are on the way to this problem being solved; however there are still many countries
it is still illegal. There are also so
many people who have to live with this privately every day, same-sex couples
who have been together for many years just have to sit and wait for it to be
legal for them to marry.
Actors: Who are the key actors in the network? (e.g. positive / negative
effect)
There are both positive and negative effects coming from the government. In
Australia, the state and territory governments have extended to same-sex
couples some of the legal and economic rights and responsibilities that heterosexual
couples receive; which is a positive, but far from all of them though. Negatively, they still are excluded from the
institution of marriage itself, which undermines their basic human rights to
equal legal treatment and discriminates against them.
Although there is an ongoing debate whether same-sex marriage should be
legal or illegal, the debate has been on constant for years now. One day it may
be legal but until then same-sex couples will have to continue fighting for
their rights. The positive effect of this problem is that views have shifted in
a positive direction, more people are being more accepting of same-sex
relationships.
Tensions: What are the tensions from the problem / practice space?
Tensions are the pressure from the government, the debates that can effect
whether same-sex marriage will be legal or illegal, and how this law will be
changed. How will we convince the government to vote to get this bill passed?
Will the religious culture fight for this law to remain illegal?
Problem definition: What would the problem look like if it were solved?
If the laws were passed to make same-sex marriage
legal it would remove discrimination of these relationships. It would allow these couples to have the same
economic rights and responsibilities as heterosexual couples, it would also
allow health and wellbeing benefits and security for one another and their
children.
Concepts: What possible concepts might provide a solution?
We are currently in the longest Australian federal election campaign in
history, we have the chance now to talk to the candidates, Labor and Liberal;
start the discussion and convince them it is a worthwhile cause. Convince them that although there are many
things in politics that seem more of a priority like paying the bills and
getting a quality education, same-sex marriage is important to a portion of our
country so it should be important to all of us.
References:
Australian Marriage
Equality 2013, Marriage equality facts at a glance, viewed 6th April
2013,
Kenny, M 2013, Greens to push gay
marriage rights, viewed 5th April 2013, http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/greens-to-push-gay-marriage-rights-20130314-2g1gq.html
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