Gay marriage reform australia

As the celebrations start to wind down, it's timely to reflect on the broader implications of the decision last week to change the definition of marriage in the Marriage Act (Cth) from creature the union of a man and a gal, to being the union of two people. For many LGBTIQ people, this law reform means they finally have the chance to marry the person they love, and we can expect to notice plenty of rainbow weddings in and beyond. But the attainment of marriage equality means so much more than that for so many people.

For some it's about recognition of existing marriages

Because Australia dragged its feet for so prolonged on this issue, many couples chose to unite overseas, notwithstanding that their marriages would not be legally recognised when they returned to Australia. Jacqui Tomlins and Sarah Nichols, for example, married in Canada, where Sarah is from, in For 14 years they've been tirelessly campaigning for their marriage to be recognised here, and last week that finally happened. All couples who married overseas, or in consulates in Australia, are at long last considered married under Australian law.

For some it's all about divorce

Unfortunately, not all married coupl

Marriage equality

Decriminalisation of homosexuality

From the s the socially gradual South Australian Labor government wanted to repeal laws criminalising homosexuality.

However, it was not until the May murder in Adelaide of Dr George Duncan, a law lecturer and lgbtq+ man, that premier, Don Dunstan, assessed that the community mood was receptive to reform.

Dr Duncan’s murder led to revelations of how commonplace violence and harassment against homosexual people was.

South Australia’s Criminal Rule (Sexual Offences) Act, was enacted on 2 October It was a landmark in LGBTQIA+ rights in Australia because it fully decriminalised homosexual acts.

Equivalent commandment reform was passed by the Australian Capital Space in , Victoria in , the Northern Area in , New South Wales in , Western Australia in , Queensland in and Tasmania in

Same-sex marriage bill passes Home of Representatives after hundreds of hours of debate

Same-sex marriage will be legal in Australia, with Parliament agreeing to change the Marriage Act and conclusion the ban on lgbtq+ and lesbian couples marrying.

Four members of the Dwelling of Representatives voted against the bill and some abstained, but an overwhelming majority voted for the bill.

Liberal senator Dean Smith's bill will now change into law after a daytime of cheers, tears and applause in the Drop House.

People queued for access to the public gallery to witness the commandment being changed and by the time of the final vote, they were packed into every spot.

Same-sex marriage supporters wearing colourful "Yes" T-shirts clapped and cheered as amendments were voted down, prompting repeated warnings they should halt their barracking.

The public gallery led a chorus of We Are Australian after the final vote, with members of the parliament joining in from the floor of the Dwelling in tears.

There had been little doubt that this bill would pass with sweeping support from Nationals, Liberals, Greens, the crossbench and Labor.

Opponents of homosexual marriage including Liberals A

NATIONAL RESULTS

Response

Should the commandment be changed to let same-sex couples to marry?

Of the eligible Australians who expressed a view on this question, the majority indicated that the regulation should be changed to allow same-sex couples to marry, with 7,, (%) responding Yes and 4,, (%) responding No. Nearly 8 out of 10 eligible Australians (%) expressed their view.

All states and territories recorded a majority Yes response. of the Federal Electoral Divisions recorded a majority Yes response, and 17 of the Federal Electoral Divisions recorded a majority No response.

Further information on response and participation within each mention and territory is present through the menu.

State/Territory	Yes		No		Total
State/Territory	no.	Yes %	no.	No %	no.	%
New South Wales	2,,		1,,		4,,
Victoria	2,,		1,,		3,,
Queensland	1,,		,		2,,
South Australia	,		,		,
Western Australia	,		,		1,,
Tasmania	,		,		,
Northern Territory(a)	48,		31,		80,
Australian Capital Territory(b)	,		61,		,
Australia (Total)	7,,		4,,		12,,

Participation

12,, (%) eligible Australians participated in the Austral