Only one way forward

This letter, in response to 'Balancing Acts trip up on tightropes', was sent to the Canberra Times on 31.12.08.

Dear Editor,

Victor Violante unfairly diminishes the ACT's current civil partnership scheme (26.12.08) when, in fact, it is one of the best of its kind in the world.

Unlike the UK civil partnership scheme, the ACT scheme has official ceremonies, providing couples with an opportunity to solemnise their union.

But unlike the New Zealand scheme, the ACT scheme makes these ceremonies optional, for those couples who don't need a ceremony.

Violante sees the fact there have been 39 civil partnerships as evidence that the current ACT scheme is unattractive to same-sex couples.

But, in reality, this number is proportionally greater than in other jurisdictions with civil union schemes.

It's true that the current ACT scheme isn't marriage, but neither was the civil union scheme formerly proposed by the ACT Government.

The current ACT scheme is a relatively good way to formally recognise couples who don't wish to marry.

But for same-sex couples who do wish to marry, there is only one way forward: removal of discrimination from the federal Marriage Act.

Yours Sincerely,
Rodney Croome.
Rodney Croome
Spokesperson, Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group
Rm 20, Lvl 1
McDougall Bdg, Ellerslie Rd
Battery Pt, 7004
0409 010 668