With less than three weeks to a country-wide "Year of Action for Same-Sex Marriage" march scheduled for Nov 28, Australian Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young has today called on Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to allow Labor MPs a free parliamentary vote on gay marriage.
A Senate committee, sitting in Melbourne today, will hear evidence from gay marriage advocates, family groups, the Catholic Church and the Australian Christian Lobby. The 28-year-old senator will be taking part in a public hearing in Melbourne on Tuesday for her Marriage Equality Amendment Bill, which was introduced in June yet has not been debated by Federal Parliament.
In June this year, the South Australia senator introduced a private member’s Bill to permit marriage regardless of sex, sexuality and gender identity in Australia. The Bill will also repeal the prohibition of the recognition of same-sex marriages entered into overseas.
The Marriage Act was amended under the Howard Government in 2004 to specify that marriage could be only a “union between a man and a woman,” and unions between same-sex couples entered into outside the country are not to be recognised as marriage in Australia.
"This is not a gay issue, it's a human rights issue. Although not all same-sex couples want to get married - just like not all opposite-sex couples want to get married - it should be their choice how they celebrate their love, not the Government's,” Hanson-Young said in a media statement released on Nov 9.
"Kevin Rudd should allow this debate to happen and give his MPs a conscience vote so we can have an honest discussion on this important issue.
"The sky hasn't fallen in there, and it won't do so here, either, if the Prime Minister shows some leadership and provide marriage equality to all Australians.''
She said removing discrimination from the Marriage Act would bring Australia into line with Canada, Spain, Belgium and some parts of the US.
She added that the public hearing for her Bill has reportedly received more than 20,000 submissions, which is “one of the biggest responses to any proposed legislation in Australian history.''
“Only last week, a new poll, commissioned by Australian Marriage Equality, and conducted by Galaxy, highlighted that three in five Australians are in support of the right of same-sex couples to marry, with 58 per cent arguing that Australian law should recognise same-sex marriages that are legal in other countries.
“Surely the argument espoused by many that marriage equality does not have the support of the majority of Australian’s is now redundant.
“It is clear that it is time for the federal parliament to catch up with public opinion and move to make same-sex marriage legal.”
Sarah Hanson-Young
Senator for South Australia
Second Reading Speech: Marriage Equality Amendment Bill 2009, 24 June 2009
LGBT activist groups have announced a new campaign "Year of Action for Same-Sex Marriage" in 2010 to be launched with a country-wide march on Nov 28 in major cities.
Rallies on November 28, 2009
Melbourne
November 28, 1pm
State Library
Sydney
November 28, 1pm
Sydney Town Hall
Adelaide
November 28, 11am
Parliament House
Canberra
November 28, 1pm
Garema Place, Civic
Brisbane
November 28, 1pm
Queens Park, City