Same-sex Marriage inquiry

SSO - Tuesday, 7 July 2009

The Rudd Government has announced a Senate Inquiry into same-sex marriage.

The inquiry follows the tabling of a private members bill by Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young.

Hanson-Young introduced the Marriage Equality Amendment Bill 2009 which, if passed, would grant same-sex couples equal marriage rights and recognise unions entered into abroad.

In 2004, the ALP joined the Howard government to legislate against same-sex marriage. PM Kevin Rudd ruled out its introduction since being elected.

Although a closing date for the inquiry is yet to be announced, the
government is calling from submissions in preparation for a November 26 report. Read more
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Greens introduce equal marriage bill

GREENS PRESS RELEASE • Wednesday 24 June 2009

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young will today introduce a private member's bill to grant same-sex couples equal marriage rights in Australia, and table along with it a 30,000-strong petition in support of legalising same-sex marriage.

The Marriage Act was amended under the Howard Government in 2004 to specify that marriage could be only a union between a man and a woman.

Results of a Galaxy poll commissioned by Australian Marriage Equality released last week showed 60 per cent of Australians agree that same-sex couples should be allowed to marry in Australia.

"The Greens' Marriage Equality Amendment Bill can bring Australia into the league of other forward-thinking nations who recognise that all couples should enjoy the right to marry," said Senator Hanson-Young, Greens spokesperson on sexuality and gender identity.

"While last year we saw some historic leaps and bounds in removing discrimination against same-sex couples within this country's federal laws, there was a glaring omission from that suite of legislation: marriage.

"It's well and truly time our parliament rights this wrong and legislates for true equality."

The Greens' Bill will also repeal the prohibition of the recognition of same-sex marriages entered into overseas.

"It's ridiculous that a same-sex couple married in Canada, for example, can step off the plane at Sydney International Airport and have their marriage considered invalid," she said.

Senator Hanson-Young said the Australian community was broadly supportive of equal marriage, citing polls, petitions, and community attitudes

"I'll be tabling a petition of over 30,000 signatures in support of equal marriage rights this afternoon when I introduce the Bill," she said.

"The Rudd Government can no longer hide behind the lame excuse of the community not being ready for same-sex marriages happening in Australia - it's the Rudd Government who needs to catch up with public understanding.

"Australia cannot truly hold its head up high while exhorting the virtue of acceptance and celebrating diversity without equal marriage laws."

Media contact: Gemma Clark on 0427 604 760

Copies of the Bill, its Explanatory Memorandum and Senator Hanson-Young's speech are available upon request

Read more
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Rudd must allow civil unions: activists
SX • May 22, 2009

Gay rights activists have demanded the Rudd Government allow the ACT to enact civil union laws.

Australian Coalition for Equality (ACE) spokesperson Corey Irlam said the Federal Government’s continued antagonism towards the incorporation of statutory ceremonies in the ACT’s Civil Partnership scheme was based on “prejudice”.

“The reason the ACT doesn’t yet have the type of civil union scheme it wants it that successive federal governments don’t want same-sex relationships officially solemnised and celebrated,” he said.

“It’s prejudice pure and simple.” Read more and comment

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Rudd rejects civil unions • SSO • April 28, 2009

A key proposal from the Australia 2020 Summit that civil unions be
offered to same-sex couples has been officially rejected by the Rudd
Government.

The Government’s response equated the proposal with same-sex
marriage equality, saying the no gay unions policy “reflects the widely
held view in the community that marriage is between a man and a woman”.

But the Government confirmed it still intends to recognise and
support same-sex families through its community and social inclusion
strategies, and convince NSW, QLD, SA, WA and NT to implement
relationship registers. Read more _______________________________________________________________

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November 16, 2004

Fighting Homophobia • Repeal the ban on same sex marriage • Equal Marriage Rights for all

Community Action Against Homophobia supports the call for human rights, anti-war and anti-racist activists to converge on Canberra on November 16, for the first day of Parliament sitting.

We agree with Sam Watson, indigenous and anti-war activist, (Green Left Weekly #604) when he says we need to come together in a rainbow convergence, a living sea of hands on the laws of federal parliament, with each upraised hand saying 'Stop, Howard - you have no mandate!"

CAAH will be adding bright pink to the rainbow of dissent on November 16 and calling for the repeal on the ban on same sex marriage and for equal marriage rights for all.

At the Canberra Convergence lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) activists will be asking all people to sign onto our "Repeal the Ban" petition.

We have to get these laws off the books. We will not sit by and allow this bill that relegates us to the back of the bus to go unchallenged. Discrimination against one diminishes us all. Refugee Action Collectives are converging nationally, for the first day of Federal Parliament sitting on, November 16th to free the refugees. Community Action Against Homophobia is leading a pink contingent down there to demand a repeal of the marriage ban.

Call Rachel E 0403 798 420 or Simon M 0438 637 037 for more info _______________________________________________________________

June 2006

Call to Action. Equal Rights for Same-Sex Couples.

Repeal the Ban on Same-sex Marriage&ACT civil unions.
Equal Rights NOW!

National Day of Action August 13 2006.

The Australian government was the first government to ban same-sex marriage, setting the international benchmark for homophobic relationship legislation. Uganda, Nigeria, Latvia, Honduras followed suit. Uganda also has seven years jail for homosexual acts. This contrasts the passage of same-sex marriage and civil unions in many countries. England, Czech Republic have enacted civil unions. South Africa will enact same-sex marriage this year.

Now the ACT same-sex civil unions have been overturned in a homophobic act.
In the lead up to the marriage ban - at the August 2004 National Marriage Forum - same-sex couples were called “moral terrorists of the 21st century”, “psychologically disturbed” and “unfit to raise children.”

We cannot sit by and live with second-rate citizenship! Lets fight their Straight Australia Policy! Get involved in NSW Community Action Against Homophobia’s (CAAH) National Day of Protest.

Community Action Against Homophobia NSW (CAAH), Queer Students Network (NSW), Resistance, Socialist Alliance, Wollongong University Students Association, The Greens LGBTI, Freedom Socialist Party, Radical Women, Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group, Equal Love Rights Network (Vic), Gay and Lesbian Counseling Service (NSW), Girlesque, National Union Students, Queer Action Collective (Sydney University), Rebellion, Queers Glamour Maquarie University, Sex and Gender Association (SAGE), Lets Get Equal (Adelaide), SUPRA (Sydney University)…have so far endorsed the action…

Email grrrach@yahoo.com.
Call Farida 0412 109 160 Simon 0438 637 037

CAAH Meets every fortnight on Wednesday 7pm Queer Space, Uni Technology Sydney – Tower Building. Next meeting 21st June.