For Tony.

This is a copy of the email that I just sent to Tony Abbott regarding the conscience vote on marriage equality.

If you want to get in touch with him too, you can reach him here: Tony.Abbott.MP@aph.gov.au.

Mr. Abbott,

Unlike a lot of the mail you’re going to get on the subject of marriage equality what follows here will not be an attempt to change your mind, or to ask you to reverse the personal stance that you have taken on the issue. Your reasons for objecting to a change in language of the Marriage Act to allow for same-sex couples to enter in to the institution are well documented and you are absolutely entitled to air them.

It is with that same sentiment in mind that I’m writing to you. It’s to be expected that an issue like this evokes strong feelings for any individual, and these are feelings that will be born out of the experiences that individual has encountered and collected. Through family, friends and serendipitous random encounters, everybody is given a unique opportunity to learn from and adapt to the environment around them, which in turn will shape that individual’s emotional response to issues such as marriage, euthanasia and abortion. With this in mind, I would ask that you allow the members of your party to undertake a conscience vote when the private member’s bill requesting amendment to the Marriage Act is presented to parliament.

It’s obvious that this issue is not going to be decided by bipartisan pragmatism. If that were the case, a change to the Marriage Act would have been actioned long before now – in line with the natural progression of our society towards a more progressive and accepting view of marriage equality. That this outcome has not yet been reached proves that there is a greater, more complicated morality at play – a morality that can only be satiated by allowing the individual to act under the guidance of their conscience.

I can only hope that I am not shouting in to the ether. There is a time for playing politics and pandering for votes, and time for allowing those who have chosen to stand alongside you as members of the Liberal Party to apply the sum of their life experience and the views of their constituencies to a conscience vote. Julia Gillard has made a choice, and now the country is watching as you make yours. You have a chance to show compassion and open-mindedness by allowing your party members to express personal views on a deeply personal issue. Views that, like yours, are shaped by their families, friends and everything they have experienced. See reason. Let them.

Thanks,

Lauren