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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 »
Tuesday, November 10th, 2009
The Greens have ramped up their push for same-sex marriage as the first, and only, public hearing for the Marriage Equality Amendment Bill Inquiry took place in Melbourne on Monday.
Greens leader Bob Brown and party spokeswoman for sexuality and gender identity Senator Sarah Hanson-Young launched a pro-gay marriage postcard campaign at Melbourne University a day earlier, pledging support for gay marriage ahead of next year’s federal election.
The postcard features a picture of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and another man arm-in-arm in front of a wedding cake with the words ‘Say I do, Mr Rudd…’ which the Greens will present to the PM.
Full Story from SSO: http://www.starobserver.com.au/news/2009/11/10/marriage-battle-showdown/18044
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 australia, Gay Marriage, green party, greens, hearing, marriage equality | No Responses »
Thursday, November 5th, 2009
CELEBRITIES Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Ruby Rose, Richard Reid, Dr Kerryn Phelps, Courtney Act, and Jess and Lisa Origliasso from The Veronicas have been recruited to a Federal Government campaign promoting same-sex law reform.
They are the first in a raft of celebrities, which will number 85 in all, who have put their hand up for the campaign, which will be launched in February and will promote the passing of 85 same-sex law reforms.
The AIDS Council of NSW (ACON) yesterday announced the celebrity line-up and said it is looking for more influential Australians – both celebrities and opinion leaders – to “come out of the closet” for the Wear It With Pride campaign.
Full Story from News.com.au: http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,28383,26305862-5013560,00.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 australia, celebrities, gay rights legislation, Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Ruby Rose, same sex laws | No Responses »
Friday, October 16th, 2009
Former Governor-General and Labor Party leader Bill Hayden has told the party to get some guts and introduce same-sex marriage. In an opinion piece written for www.thepunch.com.au, Hayden declared his support for same-sex marriage and called for the introduction of federal anti-discrimination laws.
“The times are nowhere near as tolerant of and respectful towards [gay and lesbian people] as would be the case if the community accepted them as fully equal,” Hayden wrote. “We allow them a sort of provisional, limited citizenship; freedom on a short leash, as it were.
“Yes, homosexual love is now tolerated by the law, but not marriage.” Speaking to Sydney Star Observer, Hayden said what the Labor Party needed now was “some G-U-T-S”.
Full Story from SSO: http://www.starobserver.com.au/news/2009/10/16/hayden-speaks-out-in-support-of-gay-marriage/17235
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 australia, bill hayden, former labor leader, Gay Marriage | No Responses »
