Sydney’s Lord Mayor Clover Moore and a leading ‘queer theory’ academic will tonight pick apart the increasingly uncontroversial topic of marriage equality. Is it something we really need?

The debate, part of the Intelligence Squared series run by the St James Ethics Centre, will see the University of Sydney’s Professor Annamarie Jagose argue in support of the motion ‘Same sex marriage should not be legalised’, with Moore in opposition to it.

“Allowing some gay men and lesbians to marry will not stop marriage from being exclusionary,” Professor Jagose, who is pro-gay, explains. “Marriage recognises the worth of some relationships by raising them over the worth of others.”

“I’m hoping to persuade a few people that there is a progressive, pro-gay perspective that is not in favour of the legalisation of same-sex marriage,” she adds. “Positions on this issue are fairly entrenched and I think the pro-gay anti-marriage position is given less air time in public discussion than some other perspectives.

When asked about the symbolic nature of marriage for gays and lesbians, Professor Jagose responds: “I am drawn instead to the symbolism of the collective refusal of marriage as a political goal for lesbians and gay men.”

Alongside Professor Jagose will be Professor Nick Tonti-Filippini, Associate Dean and head of Bio-Ethics at the John Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family. And joining Clover Moore in arguing for same-sex marriage to be legalised will be Mark Textor, an opinion pollster and former political adviser.

The debate will take place tonight (Tuesday May 29) from 6:45pm at the City Recital Hall in Sydney.

For more information and to book, see the City Recital Hall’s website here.