Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s Valentine’s Day tribute to his wife Lucy on Facebook has drawn criticism from marriage equality advocates. In his heartfelt post, he reminisced about their early relationship and expressed how intertwined their lives have become, stating, “I have a much clearer sense of ‘Lucy and me’ than I do of ‘me’.”
However, many commentators voiced their displeasure, pointing out the inequity faced by same-sex couples regarding marriage rights. One user, Tomas Allan Leaumont, lamented that because of Turnbull’s policies, he will never experience the joy of marrying his partner of nearly a decade. Another commentator, Douglas McFarland, reflected on his own experience of waiting for government recognition, contrasting it with Turnbull and Lucy’s union.
While the post received over 29,000 likes and numerous congratulatory comments, the discontent among marriage equality supporters highlights a significant issue of recognition and fairness that persists in Australian society. Turnbull and Lucy have been married since 1980 and have two adult children.