Yahoo Lifestyle Tony Abbott Responds To 11-Year Old's Letter On Marriage Equality
You can always count on kids to bring the important issues to light, with an eleven-year old boy making headlines today after asking the Prime Minister why he's against gay marriage.
Orlando Burcham from Newcastle NSW, who is the son of Cessnock Councillor Cordelia Troy, wrote an open letter to Abbott this week demanding to know why he wouldn't change his mind on the issue.
"You were elected to represent our country, not yourself," said Burcham. "Just because you think it's wrong, does not give you the right to make it illegal. Doesn't our opinions matter to you?"
Burcham also pointed out that his own mother was gay, adding, "and even worse, your own sister is gay!"
In True Abbott fashion, the response letter was highly diplomatic but uncompromising: "The Government supports the current definition of marriage contained in the Marriage Act 1961. Any change to this policy would be a matter for the Coalition Party Room," Abbott (or perhaps more accurately, one of his staff) replied.
"My personal opinion is to support the existing definition of marriage. Though we disagree on this issue, I respect the views you have put forward."
It's not the first time the PM has been challenged on his views: in March, students from Newtown High School Of The Performing Arts asked why he was so against legalising gay marriage.
“Um,” Abbott began. “Well look, um. I... I... I'm not against people having a wonderful relationship. I'm all in favour of people having loving permanent relationships. But, it's a definitional thing."
We think Tony may want to reconsider his stance if the polls are anything to go by however, with 64% of people in support of gay marriage in Australia.
marie claire and a number of celebrities including Rachael Taylor joined forces in 2012 to support marriage equality, with Taylor stating at the time, "I want to see us progress to the next level so that all of our laws are the same for all of our citizens. This is a human rights issue - sexuality should not determine the right to marry."
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