“I expect better.” That’s the message Queensland mother Shelley Argent is sending to politicians with her new equal rights campaign.
Taking inspiration from the highly-successful ‘It Gets Better’ project, the online campaign urges people from the GLBT community, as well as their friends and families, to upload videos on YouTube calling on politicians and political groups to support marriage equality.
Argent, the mother of a gay child and a staunch supporter of equal rights, said the aim of the campaign was to continue applying pressure on politicians by keeping the issue of marriage equality in the spotlight.
“This is another way of getting the message out to Canberra,” Argent told SX. “It is time for equality. As a parent, I do expect better from the government on what my son is actually getting at the moment. As a parent, I can give my child the best education and the best parenting. I can cover every want or need. But it doesn’t matter how much money you’ve got, you can’t buy them their equality. And it doesn’t matter what they do, they cannot earn their equality. And so I think this is another way of saying to everyone, ‘It’s time to stand up and speak out’.
In her launch video, Argent offers a message to Julia Gillard.
“Ms Gillard, it’s hard to respect someone who uses religion and tradition as an excuse for discrimination,” Argent says in her video.
“Remember it was once tradition that as a married female, we automatically became the husband’s property and generally had limited rights, including the right to vote, let alone become our country’s first female prime minister choosing to live in a de facto relationship. It’s time to stop ignoring pro-marriage equality groups who are trying to show you their side of the story and the effects your inaction is having on same-sex attracted couples.
“They just want the same choices you and I have.”
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