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Do you support gay marriage? I am aware that gay marriage is not allowed in Australia. I am aware in New Zealand they have same sex civil unions. Anyway do you also approve of same sex civil unions.
Do you support gay marriage? I am aware that gay marriage is not allowed in Australia. I am aware in New Zealand they have same sex civil unions. Anyway do you also approve of same sex civil unions.
Well hang on. It's not "not allowed" in Australia as we do afford the same defacto marriage laws to gay & lesbian couples as heterosexual couples and here in Victoria we still have the domestic partnership registry, don't we? But in terms of language used and specific laws, yes government here still reflects the church trying to "own" marriage and define it as one man and one woman just like other parts of the world.
Anyway, it might be like that for now but it won't be forever.
tried to rep you MS, but have to spread it round apparently ...
Yes, you're right - I was thinking earlier, it's sorta recognised here .. tax/centrelink etc (govt assistance ...) ... it is just a matter of time..
Well it's only that I have been to several weddings and know people who are gay/lesbian who are married. I think it's great they're afforded the same rights as heterosexual couples in de facto terms but I still think we have further to go, not least because I consider church dictating terms and assuming "ownership" of marriage not just a slight against gays & lesbians but all the rest of us who would prefer to continue living in a secular society too. AND why shouldn't they be afforded the same rights as everyone else? Ludicrous it's gone on as long as it has really.
Of course I view it not unsimilar to the euthanasia laws here to be honest. Gay/lesbian marriage, like euthanasia, has a lot more support from the general public in Australia than the government would like and people won't "put it down" or pretend otherwise. We'll keep pushing for what is right for the majority no matter how it's presented to us as being otherwise.
A question to those in Australia and New Zealand. Do these governments have a separate but equal type of marriage or civil union for straight people that are...(here it comes) atheists so as not to offend the religious that assume they own the word marriage? Food for thought.
Richard,
That to me hits it right on the chin. The problem a number of people seem to have and what has made it into a giant political debate at times, is the reference - marriage. I have thought the same for many years, it is about leagal unity that allows certain benifits and rights to a couple. Keep those of religious faith happy, remove any biblical argument (the definition of marriage) and simply create a new wording for the couples. KISS I like to say. Maybe that's too simple but it helps filter out the unneccessary stresses in life.
My 2 cents.
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It's not "not allowed" in Australia as we do afford the same defacto marriage laws to gay & lesbian couples as heterosexual couples and here in Victoria we still have the domestic partnership registry, don't we? But in terms of language used and specific laws, yes government here still reflects the church trying to "own" marriage and define it as one man and one woman just like other parts of the world. 
