Carlton board member supports same sex marriage
CARLTON board member and national Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins has made a passionate statement in support of same-sex marriage, as the AFL’s Yes campaign takes another turn.
News
Don't miss out on the headlines from News . Followed categories will be added to My News.
CARLTON board member and national Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins has made a passionate statement in support of same-sex marriage.
Questions had been raised about Ms Jenkins position on the matter, following Carlton’s non-committal statement on the AFL’s campaign to back the Yes vote for marriage equality.
In a statement to the Herald Sun, Ms Jenkins said: “I absolutely support marriage equality.
“As the Australian Human Rights Commission has made clear, the fundamental human rights principle of equality means that civil marriage should be available to all couples, regardless of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or intersex status.
“All people should have equal treatment before the law and this means that all people should be able to marry the person they love.”
While Ms Jenkins’ comments do not directly support Carlton’s public statement, the Herald Sun understands she was involved in its drafting and backs the club’s position.
Sources also say Ms Jenkins doesn’t believe the club’s statement is at odds with her role as Sex Discrimination Commissioner as it expressly supported equality and same-sex marriage is ultimately an issue of equality.
Ms Jenkins, speaking in her role as commissioner, added: “The Commission also supports the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and has advised Government on how the legal definition of civil marriage can be amended, while maintaining existing religious freedom protections.
“I encourage all people to participate in the marriage survey, and I respect peoples’ right to make their own decision in this matter.”
It comes as Port Adelaide president David Koch questioned why AFL clubs are taking a stance on same-sex marriage, as Premier Daniel Andrews sent a text to the AFL boss praising him for the league’s public support of the Yes vote.
The AFL has divided its fans, clubs and some of its biggest names by publicly endorsing a Yes vote in the national marriage equality survey, with several clubs following suit.
But Koch questioned why a club would involve itself in the public debate.
“A club by coming out is saying this is the view we think all our members should have, and not even political parties are making that decision,” Koch said on Sunrise.
“(The process) should be, OK do you represent all your stakeholders and are you meant to be representing them in something like this — you’re a footy club.”
Mr Andrews sent a text to the AFL boss praising him for the league’s public support of same-sex marriage.
AFL boss Gillon McLachlan has defended the position — which included replacing the AFL logo at its Docklands headquarters with the word “YES” — as being part of its anti-discrimination stance.
The sign was removed yesterday evening and the AFL logo restored.
An AFL spokesman said the sign was taken down at 5.30pm as planned.
There will be not be any Yes logos on sportswear or balls this weekend, the spokesman added.
But today, AFL House was evacuated amid “safety fears”, with police patrolling the Docklands building after a bomb threat.
Mr Andrews texted Mr McLachlan last night to congratulate him.
AFL HOUSE EVACUATED AFTER SECURITY SCARE
The AFL’s stance has divided footy greats, with Collingwood legend Tony Shaw saying last night: “I’m not voting because we elected our politicians to make hard decisions and they haven’t got the guts to do it.
“If I was going to vote, I’d vote yes, it wouldn’t worry me, but I’m not voting.”
Asked if it was appropriate for clubs and the AFL to take a public position on the issue, Shaw added: “No, because the thing that is horrible about this is the Yes vote now - everybody says it’s about unity and peace and love and all that - but now it has become pretty ordinary.
RITA PANAHI: AFL SHOULDN’T MIX POLITICS AND SPORT
SACRIFICE: CARLTON DEFENDER’S SUPPORT FOR GAY BROTHER
PAGE 13: AFL TO BACK GAY MARRIAGE YES VOTE
“There’s a lot of vilification going around for people who are voting No.
“Like I said, I would have voted Yes but I’m doing a silent protest on it.”
Premiership coach Mick Malthouse opposed the AFL stance.
“The AFL will only polarise people and really has no right to be involved in the political world of marriage equality,” he said.
Carlton yesterday became the first club to publicly move against backing the AFL’s view on gay marriage, saying the debate was “about personal choice”.
Carlton said: “The issue of ‘same-sex marriage’ is essentially one of equality; and so the club encourages all of its people to have their say in this important national vote.”
But former Blues defender Michael Jamieson slammed the stance saying it was not an issue the club should sit on the fence on.
“I reckon they have offended more than they haven’t with that statement, unfortunately,” he said.
The Blues were joined by Hawthorn and Fremantle in steering clear of the topic.
The Hawks released a three-sentence statement this week which did not mention marriage and instead said the club “embraces and welcomes all people, regardless of race, religion, gender, sexuality or cultural background”.
“The club celebrates diversity and demands equality, and also respects the rights of individuals to make their own personal choices and form their own opinions,” the statement said.
“Hawthorn sees its role as providing an environment of respect, diversity and inclusivity where people can embrace their differences and unite in their love of the club and the game of AFL.”
The move came despite coach Alastair Clarkson publicly supporting the Yes vote alongside the AFL yesterday.
Fremantle also avoided supporting or opposing same-sex marriage, saying it generally did not participate in “campaigns of a political nature”.
“At a club level, we believe whatever decision our members and supporters choose to make regarding the survey is a personal choice, which we respect and do not seek to influence,” the Dockers said in a statement.
Former Victorian premier and ex-Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett, a supporter of marriage equality, said: “I am perplexed about the decision. I’m quite in favour of the AFL and its individual leaders having a view — as I have — but I am less comfortable with them imposing their view on the football-loving public.”
The AFL’s stance was widely supported within the organisation.
Some staff came out as gay on Wednesday in response.
“I think that we are a leader (in the community), whether people like that or not, and this is an issue that means a lot to many of our players and many of my employees and a lot of people in the community,” McLachlan said on Fox Footy.
McLachlan declined to comment further last night.
In supporting the AFL’s public support of marriage equality, the Premier said he sent McLachlan a text message last night and said “well done”.
“That is what leadership is all about, standing up for what’s right, and that’s exactly what Gil McLachlan has done,” he said.
“I don’t think we need to have this postal survey but if we are going to have it we might as well win it and we might as well we make a profound change to the law and bring this law into the 21st Century.”
Mr Andrews wouldn’t comment on Carlton’s statement, but Attorney General and Blues fan Martin Pakula said it could have been stronger.
“If you read the text of the statement, it’s a generally supportive statement,” Mr Pakula said.
“Something more direct and more unequivocal would have been more advisable.”
Yes campaign co-chair Janine Middleton welcomed the AFL stance: “AFL football encapsulates the Australian values of fairness and equality.”
Blues CEO Steven Trigg told the Herald Sun the board discussed its statement.
“I’m voting yes but we recognise it’s a personal decision. And it’s an opportunity for our club to underline the single fact that we thoroughly endorse equality, love and compassion with an absence of discrimination,’’ he said.
Former St Kilda coach Grant Thomas said it was a matter for individuals, not groups or companies.
“The concern I have with the AFL picking stances and trying to be the social conscience for society is I don’t have a lot of confidence they actually believe what they say.”
Liberal senator and leading no campaigner Eric Abetz said it was disappointing that the AFL was “insisting on pushing their political correctness agenda” without realising the consequences.
“There was a time where footy was footy and you could go to the football without having to be of a religious political persuasion. This embrace of a political bandwagon will alienate many of its supporters.”
But federal Sports Minister Greg Hunt, a supporter of gay marriage, said the AFL had been a leader in marriage equality for many years and “I congratulate them on the good-natured and respectful way they’ve shown leadership in social and sporting areas”.
Labor leader Bill Shorten said: “It’s great to see the AFL leading once again and saying yes to marriage equality. This is another reason why I love being a footy fan.”
Brewery puts name on global sporting stage
It’s the little brewery that could. A South Gippsland craft brewer is putting its name on a motorsport event with a global audience of more than 100 million people.
West Gate Tunnel build set to close key Docklands route
Brace for more traffic pain linked to the West Gate Tunnel project with a key route in the Docklands set to close.