Equality bulletin #58
This Equality Bulletin was issued by the TGLRG on May 16th, 2006
Hi Everyone,
In this Equality bulletin there is an urgent call to action in support of the ACT’s newly-enacted civil union scheme.
There’s also a reminder about tonight’s episode of "Insight" on SBS about the legal status of same-sex relationships, and a note about LGBT human rights weblogs.
Rodney Croome
0409 010 668
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Support civil unions in the ACT
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Last week the ACT Legislative Assembly passed ground-breaking civil union legislation.
The ACT joins Tasmania in formally recognising same-sex relationships. But unlike Tasmania the new ACT law allows for official ceremonies, and has no residency requirement, allowing same-sex couples from around the nation to solemnise their unions.
The ACT Government made several concessions to the Federal Government’s concerns about its legislation too closely resembling marriage.
But this hasn’t stopped anti-gay organisations from mobilising a large-scale campaign against the new law and lobbying the Federal Government to over ride it.
If the Federal Government over rides the new ACT law it will not only breach the right of ACT couples to legal equality, and stop other Australian couples from obtaining official recognition.
It may deprive all the self-governing territories of the power to enact any kind of relationship recognition scheme.
What has been one of the greatest victories in Australian LGBT history, could become one its greatest defeats.
Please write to the Prime Minister, and the other parliamentarians listed below, showing your support for civil unions in the ACT.
Here is a model letter from ACT advocacy group, Good Process.
Meanwhile, for more information visit
http://www.aidsaction.org.au/content/goodprocess/index.htm
or
http://www.rodneycroome.id.au/other_more?id=2118_0_2_0_M16
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(email addresses are below)
Dear Parliamentarians,
I am writing to request your support for the amended ACT Civil Unions Bill 2006 as passed in the ACT Legislative Assembly on 11th May 2006.
The Bill has been amended to address each one of the concerns raised by the Federal Government when the original bill was tabled in March 2006. Therefore I ask you what reason exists for the Federal Government to intervene, oppose or overturn the Civil Union legislation?
All humans deserve legal equality and protection, currently this is not the case for same-sex couples who face discrimination at a Federal level in everyday life including superannuation and taxation. The ACT Civil Union legislation will not change that.
Marriage is defined under the federal Marriage Act 1961 and was specifically amended in 2004 to exclude same-sex couples. The ACT Civil Unions legislation does not change that and in fact explicitly states that "a civil union is different to a marriage".
Even since 2004, when the Marriage Act was amended to specifically exclude same-sex couples, society's views of formal relationship recognition for same-sex couples has become more accepting and I believe most Australian's support formal relationship recognition and do not see why or how a civil-union scheme in any way diminishes the value of marriage.
I urge you to take a position that brings Australia into line with other Commonwealth nations such as New Zealand and the United Kingdom, and support the ACT Civil Unions legislation.
Yours sincerely,
NAME
ADDRESS
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Please send an email to the following ACT Senators and Federal Politician's. requesting support and not intervention. We have listed the PM, AG and some possible supporters within the Liberal Party, as well as key people within the Fed Labor Party. If you want to send it to others feel free.
To send to PM and Ruddock, please cut and paste your letter into the online forms on their websites, the links are here:
https://www.ag.gov.au/agd/www/ministerruddockfeedback.nsf/Feedback
http://www.pm.gov.au/email.cfm
Kim.Beazley.MP@aph.gov.au, Bob.McMullan.MP@aph.gov.au,
senator.humphries@aph.gov.au,
senator.lundy@aph.gov.au, Warren.Entsch.MP@aph.gov.au,
Mal.Washer.MP@aph.gov.au, Peter.Lindsay.MP@aph.gov.au,
J.Moylan.MP@aph.gov.au, P.Georgiou.MP@aph.gov.au,
Malcolm.Turnbull.MP@aph.gov.au,
senator.wong@aph.gov.au, B.Nelson.MP@aph.gov.au,
senator.coonan@aph.gov.au
Please send a THANK YOU to the following members of the ACT Legislative Assembly -
they will be receiving countless abusive emails
condemning them for their position!
corbell@act.gov.au, stanhope@act.gov.au,
barr@act.gov.au, berry@parliament.act.gov.au,
hargreaves@act.gov.au,
macdonald@parliament.act.gov.au,
porter@parliament.act.gov.au,
gentleman@parliament.act.gov.au,
foskey@parliament.act.gov.au
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"Insight"
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Tonight’s episode of "Insight" on SBS focuses on the legal status of same-sex relationships in Australia.
It promises to be a rip-roaring debate.
"Insight" is presented by Jenny Brockie and airs at 7.30pm
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Weblogs
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At the risk of self-promotion, I’ve recommenced regular posts on my weblog. Check out what I think’s behind the events referred to in this Bulletin at www.rodneycroome.id.au
Other insightful (and much less pedestrian) LGBT Australian rights commentary can be found at
http://queerpenguin.blogspot.com/
and
http://www.themuriels.blogspot.com/
Both sites have excellent links to other Australian LGBT news and commentary sites. Please check them out.