Twins Separated by Anti Gay Law in Australia One Can Marry the Other Can't so Neither Will
MICHAEL Jamison is a 31-year-old who has played 150 games with Carlton and can marry fiance Georgie any time he wants.
His twin brother Will, eight minutes younger, is an Australian men’s netball representative who is legally prevented from marrying partner Nigel.
So Michael and Georgie won’t marry until Will at least has the right to marry whoever he wants.
Michael and Georgie are expecting a baby daughter in early February and his stance is a small but important piece of symbolism for his brother.
They grew up together in Hamilton with Will aware by 14 he was probably gay and eventually coming out at 19.
As the postal vote on same-sex marriage nears, the brothers are just another example of the increasing intersection of sport and politics.
At Tuesday’s AFLPA MVP awards Marcus Bontempelli used a speech to push the “yes” campaign, as Easton Wood, Ben Brown and Jordan Roughead wore equality badges.
Both Will and Michael Jamison feel dismayed to have to campaign so hard for what is such a basic human right.
Same-sex rights campaigner Angie Green planted the seed about waiting to marry as she stands up for gay rights for her brother Brent.
“(Georgie) and I got engaged and we never thought of waiting,” Michael told the Herald Sun yesterday.
“Once it was apparent that this really was a postal vote, it brought about the discussion.
“Angie said she is waiting and it just made sense to us. It is a thing we can do apart from ticking “yes” in the vote.
“I am not sure how Will can be so level-headed about this. I watched Q&A on Monday night and screamed at the TV. It makes me so angry.
“I go through this whole range of feelings from embarrassment to anger to dumbfounded. I just know for a fact that it is something we will look back on in five or 10 years and we will shake our head and wonder why it took so long.”
Will Jamison is dismayed both at the lack of political courage of our national leaders and the level to which the debate has stooped in recent weeks.
“Down the track, I would like to get married but it’s more the idea that we don’t have a choice currently,’’ he said.
“It’s incredibly humbling (from Michael), it’s not something I would have asked him to do because when you find someone you want to spend your life with you don’t want to wait.
“But it’s also a testament to how ridiculous it is that this is still an issue. Two brothers who grew up together and one can get married and one can’t.”
He feels blessed at how smooth his path was to come out as gay — with a loving family, supportive environment and trailblazers who had come before him.
“It was pretty harrowing as a 14-year-old. I didn’t know what was going on and what to do about it. But as you get older you realize it’s not a phase, it’s not going away.
“Coming out was beyond easy. It was a non-issue. I could have told my parents I was going to Queensland for the weekend. My parents were just relieved I was comfortable in myself.
“But what is really upsetting is the hateful language that has been used in this debate. If it had been me when I was 14 hearing all of this and looking on social media, it would be a really awful spot.
“But we are nearly there.”
After a decade spent inside AFL change rooms, Michael Jamison knows two things about the first gay footballer to come out.
He will be immediately accepted by his teammates and yet he will still need a level of bravery to endure the attention that will come his way.
“Footy clubs would be one of the best places to come out. But it is the outside world and social media which might be the tricky part, ‘’ he said.
“If we say we are not ready for it, it’s because of the lack of education and it’s because people are worried about what the response would be.
“I fear that might not change until someone comes out.
“And then they realize it’s not as bad as they thought it was going to be, or it might be bad but they make it easy for everyone else.
“I hope we get to the point where people do feel comfortable. I am not sure why people haven’t come out yet and I am sure those reasons are valid but I just hope there is a day soon when someone can.”
JON RALPH, Herald Sun
JON RALPH, Herald Sun
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