Equality Bulletin #61

This Equality Bulletin was issued by the TGLRG on 4.8.06.

Hi Everyone,

In this Equality Bulletin there is information on up-coming Human Rights Commission hearings and forums on discrimination against same-sex couple, and guidance on recording same-sex relationships, families headed by same-sex couples and diverse gender identities in the Census.

Rodney Croome
0409 010 668

************************
HREOC inquiry
************************

The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission has finished taking written submissions in its current inquiry into legal discrimination against same-sex couples and has now begun phrase two of the inquiry, public hearings and forums.

Hearings involve individuals and organisations that have made submissions to the HREOC Inquiry being invited to do a 10 - 15 minute presentation on their submission, with a focus on some key issues, followed by a Q&A session with the Commissioner.

Forums will be open consultations. The Commissioner will again attend and open the forum and then people will be asked to speak about their stories and experiences.

For a list of hearing and forum places and times visit http://www.humanrights.gov.au/samesex/index.html#consultations


************************
The Census
************************

This Tuesday August 8th is the National Census.

It is vital that legislators, policy-makers and the general public are aware of the sexual and gender diversity in the Australian community so please make sure you, you relationship and your family are counted.

It is possible to officially record same-sex relationships on the Census form.

It is also possible to record that children are being parented by two parents of the same-sex, and transgender or intersex gender identity.

However, the Australian Bureau of Statistics does not make it clear that this can be done, and how it can be done.

For guidance on how to indicate you are in a de facto same-sex relationship, and how to indicate gender identity visit http://www.coalitionforequality.org.au/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=655

For guidance on how to indicate that children are being raised by a same-sex
couple visit http://themuriels.blogspot.com/2006/07/census-2006.html

As for same-sex marriages and civil unions / registered relationships...

According to the ABS,

"A registered marriage refers to marital status where partners hold or have held a valid marriage certificate."

The ABS has clarified that this includes same-sex marriages legally contracted in other countries but not recognised in Australia.

It is therefore possible for same-sex couples married overseas to indicate they are married on the Census form.

When it comes to indicating that you are in a civil union or registered relationship the ABS has said,

"We are asking that people in a civil union respond to the marital status question as it relates to their registered marital status rather than their civil union. People in civil unions can mark the Husband/Wife of Person 1 or De Facto Partner of Person 1 box in the relationship question on the Census form to identify their civil union. This equally applies to people in a same-sex civil union."

In other words, ticking the "never married" box, but noting that your same-sex partner is your "husband" or "wife" indicates a civil union or registered relationship.

Otherwise they will be counted as de facto relationships.