Tasmanian LGTBI activist and marriage equality advocate Rodney Croome has praised the Australian Medical Association’s calls for a bi-partisan approach to end the debate over same-sex marriage.
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On Saturday AMA President, Dr Michael Gannon, said excluding same-sex couples from the institution of marriage had significant mental and physical health consequences.
Mr Croome said the AMA's concern about the health of LGBTI Australians was a reminder that the country should never go down the path of a plebiscite.
“The poorer health outcomes caused by existing legal discrimination would be exacerbated by the discriminatory and stigmatising statements we would see during a plebiscite,” he said.
Dr Gannon said there were ongoing and damaging effects of having a prolonged, divisive, public debate.
“These health outcomes are a consequence of discrimination and stigmatisation, and are compounded by reduced access to health care, again due to discrimination,” he said.
“The lack of legal recognition can have tragic consequences in medical emergencies, as a person may not have the right to advocate for their ill or injured partner, and decision-making may be deferred to a member of the patient’s biological family instead.”
The AMA said people who identify as LGBTIQ had the highest rates of suicidality of any population group in Australia.
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