Human Rights Should Never Be Put To A Popular Vote

The oppression of the minority by the majority is the reason why basic human rights should never, ever be a popularity vote. Such rights as being able to worship whatever god or goddess you belief in, to be free to voice your political opinions, and to marry the person that you love should never be a popularity contest.

Australians’ Support of Gay Marriage Weakens in New Poll
NBC News
By Associated Press
September 25, 2017

CANBERRA, Australia — Support for legalizing gay marriage in Australia has weakened just as a national postal ballot asks voters where they stand on the contentious issue, according to a new opinion poll.

The government said Monday it has sent ballots to all of Australia’s more than 16 million voters asking whether the nation should lift its prohibition on same-sex marriage. Results of the balloting that began Sept. 12 will be announced Nov. 15.

A poll by Sydney-based market researcher Galaxy Research published in The Australian newspaper found support for gay marriage had slipped in five weeks from 63 to 57 percent. Opposition had grown from 30 to 34 percent.

Why is marriage equality slipping in the polls?

According to News.com.au it is because the ad campaigns from the organizations against marriage equality,

On Monday morning, crossbench Senator Derryn Hinch, who supports Yes, lashed out at the No campaign saying similar, “divide and conquer” tactics employed in the republic referendum were now being used in the marriage debate.

On Channel 7, he said the No side’s plan was to “sow seeds of doubt (and) spread the issue so it’s not about Yes or No to same-sex marriage”.

Mr Hinch said he was worried the more confused people were about the issue, the more they might side with the status quo.

On the survey itself, the ABS states that they are “asking just one question”. That question is “should the law be changed to allow same-sex couples to marry?”

But the Coalition for Marriage (CfM) insists the issue is a “package deal” with the now largely withdrawn Safe Schools program and freedom of religion.

In a recent flyer sent to homes, the words “radical” and “religion” appear three times each, “freedom” six times while “schools” takes out the crown appearing seven times.

The words “love” and “relationship” do not appear once.

Sounds just like what they tried in California… if marriage equality passes people what will stop people getting married.

At the heart of the No campaign is an attempt to steer the discussion away from the question on the ballot paper and to create doubt, Prof Young [an associate professor of social and political science at Melbourne University.] said.

Where is the opposition coming from? Well according Forbes.au,

Conservative religious organisations are mobilising again. However, given increasing public support for same-sex marriage, including among religious adherents, they often argue that same-sex marriage is really about broader issues, such as gender roles and parenting.


 A key argument – espoused recently by Tony Abbott – is that same-sex marriage will threaten “religious freedom”. Such arguments, often based on a small number of yet-to-be-finalised overseas cases, or a Tasmanian complaint that was later withdrawn, effectively reframe the debate away from discrimination against those in same-sex relationships.

Consequently, conservative Christians now depict themselves as potential victims of discrimination. This is despite the long history of past discrimination against gays and lesbians, including criminalisation of male homosexuality and the ineligibility of same-sex couples for many federal government entitlements. Such reframings have proved an effective political tactic in the US.

As I have said who a person loves should never be put to a popular vote.