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Tory MP Nadine Dorries: 'The gay marriage bill is taking the sex out of marriage'
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US: Minnesota Republican moved to tears over 'heartbreaking' same-sex marriage bill
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Government to consider abolishing civil partnerships or opening up to straight couples
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Philip Hammond: 'No great demand for gay marriage and it's upsetting vast numbers of people'
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Bret Easton Ellis slams GLAAD and says gay basketball player Jason Collins treated like a 'baby panda'
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US Radio host: Gay news websites are covered with porn that is turning teens gay
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Lib Dem MP Sarah Teather tells Catholic newspaper 'I never went into politics to tackle equal marriage'
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Tory MP David Burrowes: 'I'm not anti-gay; I'm just pro-marriage'
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Christians called to pray at Parliament in opposition to equal marriage bill
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New Zealand: B&B owner says 'not in my home' to lesbian couple
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Robert in S. Kensington 757
Eddy 311
bobbleobble 280
Jock S. Trap 260
D.McCabe 236
Ray123 182
SteveC 173
rapture 169
Rehan 163
Valksy 162
Not all of the marriages will have been conducted overseas: some will be religious marriages performed in Australia.
It would be even better if they were recognised by the state as marriage and it is shameful politicians will not act to resolve this – when it is clearly the desire of Australians.
Even if they are, they still are not recognised at the Federal level and those couples do not enjoy all of the rights of marriage. Those religion’s who may have married some of them have no authorisation to do so, so the marriages are technically null and void.
A significant number of couples have gone to great lengths to ensure they can marry, when their own government not only denies them access to this civil right in their own home nation – but also seeks to prevent them access to documentation to enable them to marry overseas. In several nations that allow gay marriage, including Portugal, Spain, Norway and South Africa, a person must produce a so-called Certificate of No Impediment, which proves that they are at least 18 years old, not already married and that there is no other barrier to the marriage – Australia has consistently refused to provide such certificates to same sex couples – perhaps as a method of seeking to prevent same sex marriage outside Australia. The Netherlands gives Australians an exemption from its CNI requirement (we understand the only other country in this category is Zimbabweans). Norway criticised Australia’s policy against same-sex marriage at a recent review of Australia’s human rights record at the UN.
Portugal has requested written verification of the Australian Government’s policy before it considers an exemption for Australians.
For same sex couples to go to such great lengths to marry – demonstrates that there is a demand for the celebration of love between same sex partners that brings with it desire of monogamy, fidelity, commitment and integrity and which adds great value to family life and society.
Its shameful that when consistently many polls show the Australian people support equal marriage – that the legislators refuse to carry out their duty and responsibility to ensure civil rights are protected, available and open to all.
Its a stain on the face of Australia.
I agree with you in every sense of the word Stu. However, it’s not a ‘stain’ on the face of Australia – it’s more like a ‘melanoma’ !
Wait until you read what just came out of Queensland. Just repealed civil partnerships and all gay relationships including surrogacy.
See, made made laws are not worth the paper they are printed on. Any Government can repeal anything they like. Governments represent themselves and will do what they want, even discriminate, and so to if they want to make certain minority groups second class, they will.
THe fight is not over by any means.
Am confused what you think is preferable to man made law
Don’t you or anyone ever question this. Question democracy. Why are we blinded by this myth that we all live in a democracy.
Society and our lives have become very repressed and oppressed. We are so controlled now by our Governments, world wide. This debate could go on forever.
So we just give up, do we?
What is the alternative?
I prefer to live striving (and at times succeeding) in advancing equality and humanity.
That’s 34,000 Couples that vote.
Someone should tell that to the politicians.
I wonder why the percentage is so small? Probably a few reasons but still – only half a percent?
why did this get a thumbs down? lol
For some time now someone has been marking down almost all comments no matter what the content. This person or persons usually leaves no comment or rebuttal so it would indicate some one of low intellect. I have my suspicions but It may also be one of the trolls recently banned from this site.
Australia, a third world country pretending to be First World….
So true.
The trials and tribulations being suffered by Australian Gay people are small compared to the injustice Australia metes out to those who have lived there for 60 thousand years…http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/aboriginals-still-fighting-for-justice-7856600.html
But still the majority of gay people remain in closets unfortunately or even worse, are registered in a heterosexual relationship. It’s a sad fact.
But congratulations to all those who are happily living their lives with their significant other! :)
As we keep learning, the answers depend on the questions you ask! I’ve included the Canadian and Australian 2011 Census forms below – Canada forces you to choose the relationship with little opportunity for interpretation. (Like most other Canadians, I filed on-line). Canadian marriage stats are due for release on Sept 19, 2012.
http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/lookup/2903.0main%20features162011/$file/SAMPLE_PRINT_VERSION_F1.pdf
http://www23.statcan.gc.ca:81/imdb-bmdi/pub/instrument/3901_Q1_V4-eng.pdf
We should remember that gay Australian born people are not Australian citizens as we don’t have full rights that ‘straight’ people have. We have the right to live here and most of the rights of other Australians but we can never be citizens until we have full rights.
I am always amazed how some of the people elected in democracies around the world manage to get elected, as in the case of the vile Julia Gillard who claims to be an Atheist but who displays the homophobic hatred of a bigoted xtian…her Baptist upbringing seems to have left a lasting impression on this backward harridan. It is disheartening that there are so many people of like mindedness in Australia and other Democracies that elect thses people…..
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