Asian Australian Alliance expresses concerns over tenor of “No” campaign to marriage equality

The​ ​Asian​ ​Australian​ ​Alliance​ ​(AAA)​ are concerned that opponents to Marriage Equality are eschewing the debate with false information, misdirection and fear-mongering. We appeal for a respectful public discourse which is actually about civil Marriage under civil law, not any other irrelevant issues. The only question being put to all Australians in the postal plebiscite is: “Should​ ​the​ ​law​ ​be​ ​changed​ ​to​ ​allow​ ​same-sex​ ​couples​ ​to​ ​marry?”

At present moment, LGBTI Asian Australians are being treated as second class citizens and are still discriminated under law and are being excluded from civil marriage, which is a right that must be available to all Australians. The Asian Australian Alliance fully support Marriage Equality without reservation. To be able to marry and form a family is a basic Human Right.
We reject the notion that Asian Australians agree with discrimination and prejudice directed against LGBTI members of our community, including LGBTI members of our Asian Australian community.

Susan Joo – Asian Australian Alliance Convener (NSW) said:

“LGBTI​ ​Asian​ ​Australians​ ​are​ ​a​ ​treasured​ ​part​ ​of​ ​our​ ​families​ ​and​ ​communities,​ ​and​ ​have families​ ​themselves​ ​that​ ​includes​ ​children​ ​and​ ​grandchildren.​ ​We​ ​abhor​ ​suggestions​ ​that LGBTI​ ​members​ ​of​ ​our​ ​Asian​ ​Australian​ ​community​ ​wanting​ ​their​ ​basic​ ​civil​ ​rights​ ​is​ ​a threat​ ​to​ ​anyone”.

Molina Swarup Asthana – Asian Australian Alliance Convener (VIC) stated:

“We​ ​are​ ​deeply​ ​offended​ ​that​ ​inference​ ​have​ ​been​ ​made​ ​that​ ​LGBTI​ ​Asian​ ​Australians​ ​are somewhat​ ​a​ ​threat​ ​to​ ​parents,​ ​our​ ​society​ ​and​ ​our​ ​families,​ ​this​ ​is​ ​simply​ ​offensive unacceptable.”

It is important to note that amongst Asian Australians are adherents of different faith traditions, amongst our members are also people of faith traditions who support Marriage Equality. We ask that their religious freedom be respected in their support for Marriage Equality. Asian Australians whose faith support marriage equality are now being discriminated against, even as their faith traditions allow provides for it (Hindu Council is one such example, the Metropolitan community church, etc etc)

AAA will be available for any press requests for interviews, contacts or further information. Please​ ​contact​ ​AAA’S​ ​Convenor​ ​MOLINA​ ​SWARUP​ ​ASTHANA​ ​(VIC)​ ​on​ ​0400​ ​785​ ​299​ ​and SUSAN​ ​JOO​ ​(NSW)​ ​on​ ​0401​ ​612​ ​699.​ ​Or​ ​you​ ​can​ ​email​ ​AAA​ ​at info@asianaustralianalliance.com​,​ ​for​ ​a​ ​prompt​ ​response.