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Thursday, December 10th, 2009
The ACT Greens have succumbed to a “veiled threat” from the federal government and will pass amendments to laws legalising same-sex weddings. It’s a victory of sorts, said Greens MLA Shane Rattenbury, but he’s disappointed the fight for marriage equality has failed to go the full distance.
The Greens had hoped gay partners would be able to be legally pronounced a couple in a ceremony under laws passed by the ACT Legislative Assembly in November.
But the federal government, threatening to veto the laws, forced changes that require same-sex couples to first register, then send back their signed papers after the ceremony before being recognised as a partnership.
Full Story from TheAge.com.au: http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-national/act-greens-to-ok-gay-wedding-laws-20091210-kl0d.html
Click here for gay marriage resources in Australia.
To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook – just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you’ll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.
Posted in act, australian capital territory, civil unions, Gay Marriage, official recognition | No Responses »
Saturday, November 28th, 2009
Crowds have gathered in Australian cities calling for marriage equality after a bill to endorse gay unions was rejected by the Senate. A Senate inquiry into same-sex marriage on Friday dismissed the Greens’ marriage equality bill, while the ACT government this week struck a deal with the federal government to accept a civil union scheme.
Australian Marriage Equality spokesman Alex Greenwich said strong attendances by more than 2,000 people at rallies in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, ACT, Adelaide and Lismore on Saturday to launch a national year of action showed positive community support.
“I think the bill’s rejection has re-energised people’s commitment to marriage equality,” he told AAP. He said same-sex marriage could become a key issue in the lead-up to the next federal election.
Full Story from 9News: http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=977223
Click here for gay marriage resources in Australia.
To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook – just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you’ll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.
Posted in act, adelaide, australia, brisbane, Gay Marriage, lismore, marriage equality, mlebourne, rallies, sydney | No Responses »
Thursday, November 26th, 2009
The Australian federal government has opted not to quash laws allowing legally-binding civil union ceremonies for gay couples in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). After discussions, the government agreed that the ceremonies could remain, although some minor changes have been made. The legislation was passed earlier this month.
Gay couples will now have to register their intention to have a civil union ceremony. The changes will be made when the ACT Legislature Assembly next sits but those who tie the knot in the meantime will not be affected.
Attorney-general Robert McClelland’s office said: “The discussions between the Australian government and the ACT government about the Civil Partnerships Act were conducted in good faith, and the matter has been resolved satisfactorily.”
Full Story from Pink News: http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/11/26/australian-government-backs-down-on-civil-union-ceremonies/
Click here for gay marriage resources in Australia.
To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook – just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you’ll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.
Posted in act, australia, civil unions, Gay Marriage, rudd government | No Responses »
Thursday, November 26th, 2009
FAMILY First senator Steve Fielding has compared same-sex marriages to incest, as a Senate inquiry yesterday recommended against allowing gay marriage in Australia. A day after the first legally recognised same-sex civil ceremony in Canberra, Senator Fielding spoke out against allowing gay couples to wed.
”A bloke cannot marry his brother; it is not right,” he said. ”A woman cannot marry their sister; it is not right. A bloke cannot marry a bloke because it is not right, and a female cannot marry a female because it is not right. I don’t support this.” Labor senator Joe Ludwig reiterated the Rudd Government’s stance that gay relationships should be recognised across the nation in civil partnership schemes and not with marriage.
But Greens leader Bob Brown said the Government was made up of ”undemocratic wowsers” and ”sad sacks” who wanted to override the Australian Capital Territory laws allowing gay couples to hold a ceremony to create their legal relationship.
Full Story from The Age: http://www.theage.com.au/national/fielding-likens-samesex-marriage-to-incest-20091126-juo3.html
Click here for gay marriage resources in Australia.
To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook – just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you’ll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.
Posted in act, australia, civil partnerships, Gay Marriage, senator steve fielding | No Responses »
Wednesday, November 25th, 2009
Warren McGaw and Chris Rumble have become the first Australian gay couple to have their civil partnership ceremony legally recognised. The pair, who have been together for nearly 20 years, held their ceremony yesterday afternoon at the Old Parliament House rose gardens in Canberra.
They are the first to take advantage of new legislation passed in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) earlier this month. However, the right may not last for long as prime minister Kevin Rudd has said he will overturn the law.
MacGaw told ABC News: “We thought we’d take this opportunity not only for gay couples Australia-wide … but just for human rights. I think the majority of Australians are behind us.”
Full Story from Pink News: http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/11/25/gay-couple-have-australias-first-civil-union/
Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources in Australia.
To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook – just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you’ll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.
Posted in act, australia, civil union, gay couple | No Responses »
Tuesday, November 24th, 2009
KEVIN Rudd will move to overturn legislation passed by the ACT government allowing gay couples to hold public, legally binding ceremonies as they form civil unions.
In the latest run-in between the commonwealth and the ACT’s Labor government on the divisive issue, Chief Minister Jon Stanhope said Attorney-General Robert McClelland had indicated during a recent meeting that the Rudd government would quash the amended legislation.
“They are prepared to intervene to overturn the recent amendments to the civil union legislation in the ACT,” Mr Stanhope said of his Monday meeting with Mr McClelland. “I indicated bluntly that this was unacceptable.”
Full Story from The Australian: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/rudd-will-intervene-to-overturn-gay-civil-unions-in-the-act/story-e6frg6n6-1225803463250
Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources in Australia.
To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook – just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you’ll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.
Posted in act, australia, australia capital territory, civil unions law, kevin rudd, overturn, prime minister | No Responses »
Sunday, November 22nd, 2009
Australia’s only openly gay political leader says it would be “plain bigotry” for the federal government to overturn ACT laws recognising same-sex civil unions. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said on Sunday the government had not ruled out vetoing the laws, which the ACT Legislative Assembly passed earlier in November.
Asked about that comment, Australian Greens leader Bob Brown said the ACT legislature’s democratic decision needed to be respected.
“It would be plain bigotry for Kevin Rudd to overturn the laws and an interference … an arrogant override of the territory’s elected representatives,” he told reporters in Canberra.
Full Story from smh.com.au: http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/overriding-act-gay-laws-bigoted-brown-20091122-iso8.html
Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources in Australia.
To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook – just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you’ll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.
Posted in act, australia, australia capitol territory, civil unions law, greens, senator bob brown | No Responses »
Sunday, November 22nd, 2009
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says the Federal Government is still waiting on legal advice to decide if it will block an ACT law that provides for same-sex civil unions. The ACT allows same-sex couples to recognise their relationship with a legally binding ceremony.
But it is similar to a bill the Government blocked last year because it was too similar to marriage.
Mr Rudd says the Government is still deciding what to do this time. “We’ll work our way through all of that once we receive the legal advice from the attorney-general’s department,” he said.
Full Story from ABC News: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/11/22/2750013.htm?section=australia
Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources in Australia.
To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook – just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you’ll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.
Posted in act, australia, civil unions, kevin rudd, prime minister, veto | No Responses »
