It’s time for marriage equality

Submitted by Louise Sales on Thu, 01/12/2011 - 16:05

On the eve of the ALP National Conference, Hon Lynn MacLaren MLC, the Greens spokesperson for sexuality will give a member’s statement in State Parliament calling upon the Federal Parliament to amend the Commonwealth Marriage Act 1961 to provide for marriage equality. The State Parliaments of Tasmania and the ACT have supported Greens motions calling for this and debate will continue in the State Parliaments of South Australia and Victoria early in the new year.

“The leaders of both the ALP and the Federal opposition are out of step with most Australians on this. They should listen to what surveys say most voters want - marriage equality,” said Ms MacLaren.

“Couples are asking for it. Their mums and dads, brothers and sisters, daughters and sons, cousins, nephews, nieces, aunts, uncles, friends, work colleagues and team mates have all supported the campaign for marriage equality. In fact, each time the pollsters get out into the streets the numbers in support grow higher,” added Ms MacLaren.

Since 2001, ten countries have begun allowing same-sex couples to marry nationwide: Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, South Africa, and Sweden. Same-sex marriages are also performed and recognised in Mexico City and in the US states of Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont.

“It’s high time Australia joined these other civilised states and nations in rejecting prejudice and embracing marriage equality,” added Ms MacLaren.

This weekend is a major milestone, as the ALP National Conference will debate state motions calling for a change in their policy to support marriage equality. The debate comes as the Queensland parliament last night passed the Civil Partnerships Bill that legalised civil unions for same-sex couples. The Bill follows the same reforms in Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales and Victoria.

“The decision by Queensland's parliament yesterday to extend the right to enter into a civil union to same sex couples is a welcome development but falls short of the marriage equality reform the majority of Australians want,” said Ms MacLaren.

“Someday soon I hope we will look back on the whole same-sex marriage debate and wonder what all the fuss was about. We will wonder how such inequitable and prejudicial laws that could prevent someone from marrying the person that they love could have been allowed to persist for so long,” concluded Ms MacLaren.