State same-sex marriage law welcomed / Right to marry key to legal equality

This media release was issued by the TGLRG on 20.6.08.

Tasmanian gay activists have welcomed moves to enact state same-sex marriage legislation.

Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said that marriage is an important way to affirm the love and commitment in relationships, and should not exclude same-sex couples.

"Same-sex couples wish to marry for all the same reasons as heterosexual couples, and they should have that choice", Mr Croome said.

"It's painful for many same-sex couples to see their counterparts in places like California taking solemn legal vows of life-long commitment while knowing they cannot do the same in their own country."

"The right to marry is about equality before the law, and about opening the institution of marriage to all those loving couples who uphold its values."

"The onus is now on opponents of same-sex marriage to explain why they want to exclude same-sex couples from one of society's important and fundamental institutions."

The Tasmanian Greens today vowed to re-introduce same-sex marriage legislation originally tabled in 2005, in the wake of continued opposition to the issue from both major parties, and moves towards same-sex marriage overseas.

Mr Croome said a Tasmanian same-sex marriage law would build on the State Government's achievement of enacting Australia's first civil partnership registry.

"Tasmania's relationship registry is the best of its kind in Australia, but it was not designed as a substitute for marriage."

"State same-sex marriage legislation will help bring an end to discrimination in marriage, and provide couples with a choice of whether they have their union registered as a significant partnership or as a marriage."

"We welcome the Greens' initiative and call on both major parties to allow an inquiry into state same-sex marriage laws."

According to Australian constitutional experts, including Professor George Williams, the Federal Parliament's refusal to recognise same-sex marriages through the Federal Marriage Act gives the states the power to enact same-sex marriage laws.

Same-sex couples are permitted to marry in the Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, Spain, South Africa, and the US states of Massachusetts and California.

The former Federal Government amended the Marriage Act in 2004 to bar the recognition of same-sex marriages.

The current Federal Government supports entitlements for same-sex de facto couples, and civil partnership registries which recognise same-sex partners, but has ruled out same-sex marriage.

The Tasmanian Greens will table their legislation on July 1st.

For more on same-sex marriage, and Tasmanian same-sex marriage legislation, visit
http://tglrg.org/index/C0_3_1/

For Prof George Williams endorsement of state same-sex marriage legislation visit
http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=7379
and
http://tglrg.org/more/82_0_1_0_M3/

For more information contact Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668.