The recognition of Gay Rights began to emerge from the darkness in the dim dark ages of 1960 when gays were once ostracised by society and plagued with discrimination. At the federal level, in 2008 and 2009, a wide-ranging suite of reforms to provide equal rights for same-sex couples in areas such as employment, taxation, superannuation, etc. were generated. However, there remained a significant area of difference in the rights and entitlements between same-sex and heterosexual relationships, and that was in relation to same-sex marriage. Following the $122 million same-sex marriage postal survey, hosted by Malcolm Turnbull, the results of this survey displayed positive results for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex community (LGBTI) community. 61.6 percent yes, 38.4 percent no out of 12.7 million voters. (3)These results have emphasized a societal shift in attitude toward the LGBTI community. Ultimately, this catalyzed the change in the legal system. From the 9th of December 2017, the Marriage Act of 2004 was amended, and sex or gender no longer affected the right to marry under Australian law. (1)Whilst gay supporters recognized this change as being true equality, and freedom and welcomed the new statute, inevitably, there were also members of society who believed that same-sex marriage raised many social, religious, moral, and political questions. In this respect, the introduction of the same-sex marriage law impacted members of the Australian community in different ways.
Impact on LGBTI community
The recently developed statute has the largest direct influence on the LGBTI community in Australia. This updated act grants homosexual couples the right to marriage. The same-sex marriage act not only allows for this community to have access to a package of benefits such as financial, tax, family, legal, employment, and health benefits, it also allows for same-sex couples to be recognized, nationally. (4) Through the reformed law, gay couples can legally enjoy the comfort of marriage, cultivate a sense of belonging and equality, and be recognized as a family. The new law was evidently popular amongst the LGBTI community, as within a year of the legal redefinition of marriage, almost 55000 same-sex couples wed. Thus, over 55000 lives changed because of this redefinition. (1)
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If the vote had not incurred enough “yes” votes, and same-sex marriage was not legalized, things would have been different. We can draw this example from the older population of the LGBTI community, who have withstood many storms in the past in an openly hostile society. Due to the lack of advocates in the past to address the concerns of the LGBTI community at the time, the elder generation (known as “gen silent”) has had to face the daily challenges of aging in isolation from their family and the community. Studies show that LGBTI elders are more likely to be single, live alone, become estranged from their family of origin, and are less likely to have children than their non-LGBTI peers. To this end, social isolation is more prevalent in the “Gen Silent” generation. Ultimately, if the amendment failed to occur, the current LGBTI community could potentially follow in the footsteps of “Gen Silent”, descending into social isolation and oppression. (7) The inclusion of gay couples in the act of marriage has not only improved their health and well-being, sense of security, and quality of relationships but most importantly, it has granted them access to a sense of belonging in Australian society. The inclusion of such a community allows this group to have more freedom in starting a family, as well as gain recognition that society is becoming more accepting of them, in turn building the confidence of many homosexual individuals. The increased confidence and stability of their relationship, compounded with a higher level of belonging in society prevents LGBTI couples from loneliness. (10)
Impact on Australian society
By allowing same-sex couples to wed, gender roles within the family become blurred in society. In Australia, gender expectations have always been normalized. This is likely due to gender socialization, which refers to how the social construct of gender is formed through daily interactions. To most Australians, a conventional family includes a mother, whose responsibilities typically consist of cooking and cleaning. She would also be submissive and financially dependent. Contrastingly, the role of a father was to be dominant and economically wealthy, to earn money to maintain the household. As such, the notion that a “functional family” can only be satisfied with a woman playing an “expressive role”, and fulfilling emotional needs, and a man playing an “instrumental role” by displaying leadership. This notion will gradually dissipate with the introduction of same-sex marriage. (5) The marriage of two homosexual individuals does not follow traditional gender constructs. (7) Bell and Weinberg suggest that relationships in the LGBTI community tend to focus on “task sharing” rather than following stereotypical roles. Research has shown that while masculine and effeminate men and women do exist within the gay community, they are far from the majority. Given that same-sex couples do not follow gender typecasts and do not submit to gender socialization and performativity, they develop their relationships on their own terms rather than copying that of a straight couple. (8) Thus, they do not assign tasks, jobs, chores, or even beliefs and aspirations to one another according to one’s masculinity or femininity. Instead, they share these tasks, aspirations ideas, etc., depending on the skills or preferences of the individual rather than the gender they identify themselves with. Though the lack of gender constructs could potentially sound like mayhem to some, studies have shown that standards of conforming to one’s respective gender are not necessary for a functional relationship or family. Instead, things such as one another's well-being, and how well they parent, nurture, and stimulate their children at home seem to play a more vital role than the sex of a child’s parents. (6)
Along with the legalization of gay marriages, normalization occurs, whereby, society’s views of homosexuality will be developed and same-sex couples will be considered more and more functional, and conventional. Eventually, as society progresses with this law, Australians will find themselves becoming more accepting of homosexual parents and couples. In this respect, the reform of same-sex marriage displays that Australian society has taken a step closer to the acceptance of differences (7).
Impact on “no” voters
The lack of masculinity or femininity within a gay couple has the corollary of negative connotations towards such relationships. Homosexuality has been deemed by some individuals as deviant or unnatural behavior for humans. To this end, the introduction of Gay marriage negatively affected and sparked fierce disagreement with those who were against gay marriage. These people believed that gay couples were unproductive or aberrant. They believe that gay couples must mimic straight couples to be practical, with each partner in the relationship either taking on a feminine or masculine role.
People who feel that their lives would be threatened by sexual promiscuity tend to be socially conservative and strongly believe in traditional gender roles. According to The Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia, they are typically religious and are in the older demographic (over the age of 60), usually born in a non-English speaking country. Those who are raised in more traditional environments, (e.g. earlier in time or in countries that are less developed than Australia), their views tend to be more conservative – reflecting on the prevailing norms in which they were socialized with. In addition to this, those who are fierce believers in many religions, such as Jehovah’s Witnesses, evangelical protestants, etc. (5), tend to disagree with same-sex marriage, likely due to the negative associations of such practices involved in these religions. This translates to resistance amongst older or non-English-born and religious individuals, who have been conditioned to believe the marriage of same-sex couples is unnatural. (12)
The introduction of the statute would infuriate certain members of society who disagree and are oblivious to how the LGBTI community functions as a family. These people fear that same-sex marriage would interrupt and have a negative influence on their way of life. (8)
Impact on “yes” voters
LGBTI supporters are likely to be positively impacted by such a change. Those behind the “yes” campaign are likely to value human rights and equality and strive for equal rights in the country. Ultimately, the outcome of the amendment would have allowed these voters to develop a larger feeling of pride for their country. (7)
Studies of the Household, Income, and Labour Dynamics in Australia portray that women tend to be more supportive of gay rights. Gender has always played a large determinant in attitudes towards social issues. This could be due to the oppression that women had to face over men in the past, leading to higher sensitivity and passion within women rather than men in such topics. Another factor could potentially be gender socialisation which leads women in general tend to be more empathetic than men. Furthermore, these studies have also evinced that highly educated individuals express more interest and support toward same-sex marriages. Education exposes humans to humanism and meritocracy, and as a result, educated individuals tend to have more progressive, egalitarian views on social topics.
The legalization of same-sex marriage aligns with the view of individuals who tend to be more empathetic and have developed more contemporary views of social issues. As such, this group of people will be positively impacted and feel satisfied with the results of the vote. (3)
Ultimately, the amendment has both positive and negative influences on the two parties as well. All in all, such a change in the law is likely to influence society to become more accepting, gender constructs are likely to become more flexible.
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