Gay marriage bill fails in Senate

26 Feb 2010, 5:41 am   -   Source: SBS staff and agencies
Share This
0 
+ Comment
27
Now seven countries around the world offer gay couples the right to marry and a further 20 allow civil unions and registered partnerships. (AAP)

Now seven countries around the world offer gay couples the right to marry and a further 20 allow civil unions and registered partnerships. (AAP)

Gay marriage won't be legalised in Australia, after the Senate voted to reject the idea, but members of the Gay and Lesbian community are still pushing the case for reform.

RELATED

Gay marriage won't be legalised in Australia, after the Senate voted to reject the idea, but members of the Gay and Lesbian community are still pushing the case for reform.

Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young's bill amended the Marriage Act, so it no longer discriminated on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Senator Hanson-Young says more than 60 per cent of Australians want to see same-sex marriage legalised.

But that figure wasn't reflected in the Senate's vote, with the bill going down 45 to five.

But with the Mardi Gras approaching, members of the Gay and Lesbian community are still hopeful Australia's policies on the issue can change.

Andrew Williamson and his partner Mindigas have been together for 5 years.

They firmly believe in marriage as an institution and want the same rights as their heterosexual friends.

"If you love someone, care for them, are totally committed to them, then marriage is the ultimate expression we have to symbolise that relationship," Mr Williamson told SBS.

As the gay and lesbian Mardis Gras approaches, the NSW government chose this week to announce that it plans to allow gay couples to register their partnerships in the future.

The move brings NSW into line with Victoria Tasmania and the ACT.

Gay groups have welcomed the move but they say it doesn't go far enough.

"We believe marriage should be the ultimate goal with civil unions and relationship registries in addition to that to allow other people to choose what they'd like but full marriage equality is what we're aiming for," an actvist said. 

Andrew Williamson agrees. He says relationship registers are second rate and may actually encourage discrimination.

"That sort of stigmatisation or classing homosexual relationships as being different  from heterosexual relationships causes people to regard homosexuals as different from heterosexuals and that is not a good thing".  

Sydney couple Vicky Harding and Jackie Braw have been together for eight years.

Their issue is not with Australia's marriage laws but with current legislation concerning adoption.

Vicky wants Jackie to be able to adopt her daughter Brenna but the law here in NSW prevents it.

"All these fantastic things we've achieved in Australia and yet we still have these ridiculous bits of discrimination lying around and yet we're not willing to clean that up. It just doesn't make sense," she said.

NSW had pledged to change the law but backed down in the face of opposition from groups which say only heterosexuals should have the right to adopt.

It's an argument 13-year-old Brenna does not understand

"That's just ridiculous. There is no proper family. This is as good a family as any. Better. Sure," he said.

For the time being the majority of Australia's politicians beg to differ.

  • Follow us: 
  • Follow us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Twitter
  • Follow us on Youtube

Your Comments

Display: 20 | 40 | All comments per page
Previous 10 | Page 1 | 2 | 3 | Next 10

You're opinions are bad and you should feel bad!

Tom - from Birsbane, 3 months ago

I honestly can't believe some people. Im a 23 year old straight male and here's my opinion. I don't care! SO same sex couple want to marry, let them! They are entittled to the same legal rights as a straight couple. They should have the right to adopt, to have their family acknowledged by law. I have nothing agaisnt same sex couple nor do I care if they get married. Everyone has such a conservative view.

media try to take side of the gay and lesbian and mislead the opinion of most australian.

john - from Perth, gosnell, 9 months ago

I strongly disagree of the same marriage. There will will be end day for human race. What will think of next? same sex animals. Intelligent human race going backward and to their own desire. Wake up and stop your desire of having always thinking the wrong side of the hole.

How the debate should go

Nick - from Artarmon, Sydney, 1 year

how the debate should go: "marriage is between a man and a woman" "says who?" "the bible" "we are a secular country!!!!!!" the end from a 16 year old who can see how old fashioned our laws are.

What about poligamy and the other one (more than 1 wife)

Maria - from Wodonga, 1 year

Ok if you are going to legalise same sex marriage, then I would like to take 10 husbands. If a male can have 10 wives why can't I then take 10 husbands. Think about it. If you love someone just live with them, work on your relationship, be proud and get on with life. We are all human beings no one group is superior to the other. There are more pressing concerns such as improving education and services for the disabled and elderly community, homeless and drugs and alcohol.

Why?

Summer - from Perth, 1 year

Why is is wrong to love. Please tell me. Because i cant understand. Shut up about calling it a sin. It's not it's damn love. We all are equals and we all have a voice. I'm 14 and I'm even disgusted in the government and all of you single minded people. Honestly, get over. Let people be happy.

Same sex marriage

Sarah - from Brisbane, 1 year

Same sex marriage should be allowed. Sure, 'god' may say that is it wrong, the dictionary may contradict it in the way it is meant to be between a 'man and a woman', but who is it really going to hurt? Will allowing men and men, and women and women to be legally recognised as married really hurt us? No. no it won't. Those who oppose same sex marriage need a good slap in the face. Wake up. We're in the 21st century. Everyone is equal, and we all deserve equal rights.

Husband and Father and Christian

Dennis Burt - from Queanbeyan, 1 year

I do oppose same sex marriage. I have nothing against those who are homasexual or lesbian Jesus says That we should love everyone,but I don't like their practices. They still are a minority but they will continue to push for changes in the marriage bill and if we give into their demands they will succed unfortunilty.But no matter what they demand they will never be married in the eyes of God.We continue to ptay for those trapped in this sickness and for those trying to escape it. God loves all.

mrs

pamela byrnes - from castle cove Sydney, 1 year

to me to refer to refer to Gay partnerships as Marriages is a contradiation of the term The noun Marriage in the Oxford dictionary is Condition of MAN and WOMAN united for the purpose of living together procreating lawful offspring Act or ceremony or procedure publicl;y proclaimly this condition Human Rights legal needs in Law obviously need to be addressed which with the current Civil Ceremony should be adequate for the Gay Partnerships

Food for thought

bob - from mandurah wa, 2 years ago

Having read many comments I find at least 3 differing statements. 1; Heterosexuals and homosexuals are the same and should have the same equality - we are not the same by definition. 2; A committed relationship needs to be defined as marriage - No a committed relationship is just that a committed relationship. Many mechanisms exist to recognise same sex or defacto ones. 3.The marriage vow asks (man) do you take this woman (woman) do you take this man - the terminology cant work. Think about it.

"marriage" contradicts itself

Larissa - from Adelaide, 3 years ago

FamilyFirstSenatorSteve Fielding said "the current definition of marriage is that it is the union of a man and woman to exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life." Does that mean divorce should be illegal? That if your partner is cheating then they go to prison? We are stuck in stupid traditions that contradict our society. Marriage is special but will not be "ruined" by allowing different kinds of couples to enter it. I am 16 and can see that so why can't our government?

Display: 20 | 40 | All comments per page
Previous 10 | Page 1 | 2 | 3 | Next 10

Join the Discussion

Name
City / Suburb E.g. Artarmon, Sydney
Title
Comment
You have characters remaining.
Validation
What's this?
This is a captcha-picture. It is used to prevent mass-access by robots.
All submitted comments become the property of SBS. They are moderated, so we reserve the right to edit comments and remove HTML tags. Not all submitted comments will be published. Publication does not mean we endorse the opinions expressed. Please read our terms and conditions for more information.