Same-sex marriage: key quotes

The right to marry whoever one wishes is an elementary human right compared to which the right to attend an integrated school, the right to sit where one pleases on a bus, the right to go into any hotel or recreation area or place of amusement, regardless of one's skin or color or race are minor indeed. Even political rights, like the right to vote, and nearly all other rights enumerated in the (US) Constitution, are secondary to the inalienable human rights to `life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness' ... and to this category the right to home and marriage unquestionably belongs.

Hannah Arendt, 1959

Marriage may be for the ages – but it changes by the year. Homosexuals need emotional and economic stability no less than heterosexuals – and society surely benefits when they have it. To this principle of social policy, add a principle of government. Barring a compelling reason, governments should not discriminate between classes of citizens. As recently as 1967, blacks and whites in some American states could not wed. No one but a crude racist would defend such a rule now. In the end, leaving aside (as secular governments should) objections that may be held by particular religions, the case against homosexual marriage is this: people are unaccustomed to it. But the direction of change is clear. If marriage is to fulfill its aspirations, it must be defined by the commitment of one to another for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health – not by the people it excludes.

The Economist, 1996


For the first millennium after Christ, Christianity didn’t even recognise marriage as a sacrament, it was regarded as a purely secular matter. Marriage also once meant the ownership of women by men, it was once permanent, and no divorce was possible, it was once restricted to couples of the same race, the notion that it has never changed is simply untrue.

Are some people trying to break up other people’s marriages? Are people proposing to abolish civil marriage? Are divorce laws going to be loosened further? The answer is that a small group of citizens, far from wanting to threaten marriage, actually want to participate in it.

Andrew Sullivan, author of "Same-sex marriage: a reader"


We shouldn’t just allow gay marriage. We should insist on gay marriage. We should regard it as scandalous that two people could claim to love each other and not want to sanctify their love with marriage and fidelity.

David Brooks, conservative columnist for the New York Times, Nov 2003.


Same-sex marriage opponents argue that marriage is about having kids and raising a family and that marriage is the best environment in which to do that. This does not explain why gay and lesbian couples raising children should be denied marriage. If marriage is the best way in which to raise children, why would we as a parliament want to disadvantage children in same-sex families by refusing their parents the right to marry?

Senator Brian Greig during the marriage amendment debate, Aug 2004


I just find it offensive that the relationship that those people have should be deemed anything other than totally legitimate.

Howard Government Parliamentary Secretary, Warren Entsch, expressing his support for same-sex marriage, Sep 2004.


ALP Tasmania expresses its disappointment at comments by Federal Shadow Attorney-General Nicola Roxon that Labor is committed "not to change Australia's Marriage Act to recognise gay marriages"

ALP Tasmania believes that this position is inconsistent with the ALP’s Federal Platform.

ALP Tasmania also dismisses arguments against same sex marriage as ridiculous and spurious.

ALP Tasmania calls on the Federal Parliamentary Labor Party to adopt policies that truly eliminate discrimination against same sex couples, and a Latham Labor Government to amend the Marriage Act to allow for same sex marriage.

A motion passed almost unanimously at the Tasmanian ALP’s State Conference, Oct 31st 2004.


Let us never forget that one of the reasons that Canada is such a vibrant nation, so diverse, so rich in the many cultures and races of the world, is that immigrants who come here are free to practice their religion, follow their faith, live as they want to live. No homogenous system of beliefs is imposed on them.

Remember that it was once thought perfectly acceptable to deny women the right to vote. Over time, perspectives changed. We evolved, we grew, and our laws evolved and grew with us. Our laws must reflect equality not as we understood it a century or even a decade ago, but as we understand it today.

If we do not step forward, then we step back. If we do not protect a right, then we deny it. Mr. Speaker, together as a nation, together as Canadians: Let us step forward.

Canadian Prime Minister, Paul Martin, introducing national same-sex marriage legislation Feb 2005.