Former Australia PM calls for laws to protect those 'tangentially affected' by same-sex marriage

Current PM seeking the LGBT vote by being first Australian PM to participate in a Gay Pride march. 

Australia: John Howard has called for conscientious objectors to homosexual marriage to be given legal protection, drawing attention to the prospect the Coalition could legislate to allow people to refuse to provide goods and services to gay weddings, Pastors, clergy, Christian business companies, Christian schools, colleges and hospitals. This list goes one!

Howard said the “overwhelming majority” of Liberal MP's would vote in favor of immoral homosexual marriage if that was the result of the plebiscite, even if their personal view was against it. They would then need to resign for violating their conscience.

PM Malcolm Turnbull confirmed on Friday MPs would be given a free vote after the plebiscite.

Howard said: “I do think one thing that has to be addressed is the question of proper protection of religious freedom, and freedom of conscience in relation to people who might in a tangential way be affected by this.”

The reference to people “tangentially affected” by homosexual marriage suggests Howard was referring to people other than ministers of religion, who Labor and the Coalition both agree should not be forced to conduct gay weddings, for Christian schools not to teach about homosexual marriage, for adoption agencies not to allow homosexuals to adopt children.

Last week, the attorney general, George Brandis, refused to rule out exemptions to anti-discrimination law which would allow bakers, photographers, venue owners and others to refuse to provide services for gay weddings.

Labor has already ruled out supporting such changes. Howard reiterated his opposition to marriage equality, and said opponents should not be “frightened or bullied into silence” by accusations of bigotry.