http://www.thepunch.com.au/author-bios/shelley-argent/ Shelley Argent is the Brisbane President and National Spokesperson for PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays). For her work in promoting and fighting for gay rights, Shelley was named this year’s Senior Queenslander of the Year in 2011. Shelley visits Parliament House regularly with parents from across the country to ask MPs to treat their sons and daughters equally. She has also launched a national television advertising campaign calling on the Prime Minister to allow her gay son “the emotional security and instant respect that comes from marriage”. en Copyright 2012 The Punch penberthyd@newsltd.com.au penberthyd@newsltd.com.au Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 Politics, opinion, world news, sports news, latest news, views, Barack Obama, Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, Nathan Rees, Malcolm Turnbull, Peter Garrett, Barnaby Joyce, Australian, federal politics, opinion polls, election, The Punch, thepunch, punch ExpressionEngine 1.6.7 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 15 http://www.thepunch.com.au/images/punch-logo-rss.png http://www.thepunch.com.au/ 144 70 Politics, political opinion, world news, sports news and the latest news and views updated live, daily on The Punch - Australia's best conversation. Search The Punch keywords http://www.thepunch.com.au/search/ http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/government-out-of-step-with-people-on-gay-marriage/ As a parent of a gay man and National Spokesperson for Parents with Lesbian Daughters and Gay Sons (PFLAG), I am encouraged by the most recent Galaxy Poll taken showing that 75 per cent of Australians “believe marriage for same sex couples is inevitable”.   This poll agrees with another Galaxy Poll taken a few months ago that showed 62 per cent are in favour of allowing same-sex marriages, and a NewsPoll that showed 65 per cent don’t have a problem with it. But still MPs are hesitant to take the step. When I meet with them in Canberra and ask “why?” so often the answer is “fear of the religious minority and possible loss of votes at the next election.” At least they are honest. But is this a good reason to keep discriminatory legislation in place? I don’t think so. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Shelley Argent) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/government-out-of-step-with-people-on-gay-marriage/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/government-out-of-step-with-people-on-gay-marriage/#item6018 Tue, 07 Jun 2011 19:57:37 +0000 Shelley Argent | Author bios | The Punch