A bill introduced into the Australian Senate yesterday seeks to end the definition of marriage as a heterosexual union.
It could be the moment Australia allows all adults to have their relationships recognised, Australia Marriage Equality believes.
The ability to marry another consenting adult is a human right, AME spokesperson Ivan Hinton-Teoh told SBS.
"It's the first opportunity that we've had from a libertarian perspective," he said.
"Forcing people to travel overseas to have their relationships recognised, for them to Australia where their marriages are not recognised, was not good enough."
Same sex marriage bill introduced to the Senate
Liberal Democratic Senator David Leyonhjelm who tabled the bill yesterday insists government should not interfere with people’s married lives.
“It is the right to live your life as you choose and not have the government impose a particular view on you,” Senator Leyonhjelm said in a speech on Tuesday.
The Freedom to Marry Bill 2014 seeks to overturn the definition of marriage as a union between a man and a woman.
The issue affects countless Australians. There were more than 30,000 same sex couples in 2011, the last Australian Census revealed.
Graph source: ABS
There were more than 3000 same sex couples in 2011. Pic: ABS
Prime Minister Tony Abbott recently told Senator Leyonhjelm (of the Liberal Democratic Party) he was opposed to same sex marriage, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
The Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) which has consistently campaigned agaisnt gay rights has called on the Liberal Party to uphold marriage between a man and a woman.
"The real conscience issue here is whether or not a child has a right to their biological mother and father," ACL managing director Lyle Shelton said.
Senator Leyonhjelm believes people have a right to marry whomever they choose, and that it is not the government’s business.
“Fairly obviously, we do not believe we need a marriage certificate issued by the government to confirm that we are married,” Senator Leyonhjelm said.
“All my bill does is prevent the government from stopping two people from getting married on the grounds that they are not a man and a woman.”
Marriage equality around the world
This map from Freedom To Marry shows the 19 countries worldwide that allow marriage between same sex couples. Those countries include South Africa, Portugal and Brazil.
Map source: Freedom To Marry
Australia stands opposed to western countries like Canada and France, which have legalised same sex marriage. Pic: Right To Marry
Across the United States, 35 states allow same-sex marriage.
Map source: Freedom To Marry
In the United States, 35 states have allowed same sex couples the right to marry. Pic: Right To Marry.
