Politician compares same-sex marriage to ‘rams in a paddock’
An anti-gay politician has likened marriage equality to ‘rams in a paddock.’
Australian MP Andrew Broad made the ovine comparison during a recent interview The Sunraysia Daily.
Broad is a federal MP for The Nationals – a party that represents rural voters – which make explain his livestock inspired remark.
“I think a bicycle is not a tricycle, and relationships can have different names,” he said.
“I can put the rams in a paddock and they might mount one another, but no lambs will come out.”
However, Broad has since claimed that the damning article was “not entirely accurate.”
“I am unavailable to speak today due to leadership discussions and travel,” he said in a statement to ABC News.
“However, I would like to say that the article in question is not an entirely accurate reflection of discussions.
“The government will hold a plebiscite on changes to the marriage act, and every Australian over the age of 18 will be given an opportunity to decide the outcome in line with their personal views.”
Broad’s comments come after it was recently revealed that a majority of MPs and Senators in Australia now support equal marriage.
The number of parliamentarians in both Australian houses who have publicly said they would vote for marriage equality is just less than half.
However, a list compiled by Australian Marriage Equality confidentially suggested that a majority in both Houses would actually vote in favour of it.
The Coalition Government isn now facing immense pressure to call off plans to hold the planned plebiscite – a public vote – on the issue.
Despite an overwhelming majority of the Australian public also supporting equal marriage, the current Liberal-led Coalition government refuses to put the issue to a free Parliamentary vote due to deep political divisions.
In addition, results released by Facebook earlier this week revealed that the amount of Australians coming out on the social media network has doubled in just a year – a move many say further reflects the country’s changing attitudes towards sexuality and gender identity.
