LGBT global news 24-7

Home » Content about Australian Marriage Equality

Content about Australian Marriage Equality

May 20, 2013
Ex Australia's PM Kevin Rudd goes from 'dinosaur' to backing gay marriage

In an unforeseen shift of opinion, Australian MP Kevin Rudd has thrown his full support behind changing federal legislation on same sex marriage

In a blog post, former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, and leadership rival for current leader Julia Gillard, has declared his support for same-sex marriage.

Rudd, who is a current Australian Labor Party backbencher said: ‘I have come to the conclusion that church and state can have different positions and practices on the question of same sex marriage. I believe the secular Australian state should be able to recognize same sex marriage.’

May 18, 2013
Australian Opposition leader under pressure after French marriage vote

Australian Opposition leader Tony Abbott’s electorate office has been picketed by over 100 people calling for him to allow a free vote on marriage equality after France legalized same-sex marriage

Australian supporters of marriage equality have picketed the electorate office of Opposition leader Tony Abbott to mark the signing into law of same-sex marriage by French President Francois Hollande.

Over 120 people gathered today outside Abbott’s Manly electorate office to highlight the fact that Australia is increasingly out of step with its international peers, with same-sex marriage legislation passing in New Zealand last month and France becoming the 14th country to allow same-sex couples.

May 6, 2013
Anti-gay marriage candidates win Tasmania election

Despite a campaign to make local election all about marriage equality, anti-gay-marriage candidates win all three contested seats in Australian state of Tasmania

Two candidates who voted against gay marriage in last year's Upper House vote in Tasmania won their seats in a local election yesterday. The third victor has also said she would vote against a state same-sex marriage bill.

April 30, 2013
Australian PM and opposition leader rule-out gay marriage vote

Political leaders say no to a referendum on gay marriage in Australia, religious groups against marriage equality support a vote on the issue

Australia's prime minister Julia Gillard and opposition leader Tony Abbott have ruled out a referendum on same-sex marriage in September.

Independent MP Tony Wilson yesterday suggested holding a referendum on the matter on the same day as the general election, 14 September.

April 24, 2013
Melbourne Lord Mayor agrees Australia is looking 'silly' for not going ahead with marriage equality

'I think we'll look back in ten years time and say "what was all that about",' says Liberal Party politician Robert Doyle

Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle agreed that Australia is starting to look 'a bit silly' for not going ahead with gay marriage as other countries around the world do so.

April 19, 2013
Australian state premier says he supports gay marriage

Prominent Liberal politician comes out in support of legalizing same-sex marriage in Australia

The premier of the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) has come out in support of same-sex marriage.

'As a Liberal who believes that commitment and family units are one of the best ways in which society is organized, I support the concept of same-sex marriage,' said Barry O'Farrell to Fairfax Media, dismissing the argument that gay marriage would damage traditional marriage as 'utterly ridiculous'.

April 18, 2013
Australian Greens to push for recognition of overseas gay marriages

Senator Sarah-Hanson Young says she will introduce bill to recognize overseas same-sex marriages in Australia when parliament reopens on 14 May

Australian Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said this morning that she will introduce a bill that will allow international same-sex marriages to be legally recognized in Australia.

April 17, 2013
Australian Marriage Equality 'deeply embarrassed' by New Zealand's gay marriage success

'The world's attention will be on New Zealand's achievement, and Australia's corresponding failure,' say the same-sex marriage campaign group

Australian Marriage Equality (AME) said they feel 'deeply embarrassed' that they are falling so far behind their neighbor is passing same-sex marriage law.

New Zealand are set to legalize gay marriage today, whereas neither Australia's prime minister Julia Gillard nor opposition leader Tony Abbott supports marriage equality.

A same-sex marriage was overwhelmingly rejected by the House of Representatives and the Senate in Australia last September.

April 17, 2013
Julia Gillard refuses to change mind after NZ passes gay marriage

Australian Prime Minister has renewed her opposition to marriage equality after New Zealand became the first Asia-Pacific country to legalize it

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard refused to change her opposition to gay marriage after New Zealand passed it today (17 April).

The leader of the Labor party said she will not be moved from her stance despite her country having close ties to the Kiwi nation.

She was asked by a member of the public in Melbourne last night (16 April) on why Australia was lagging behind New Zealand when it comes to equality, the AAP reports.

‘I doubt we're going to end up agreeing,’ Gillard said.

March 31, 2013
Australian Opposition Leader’s daughters back marriage equality despite dad’s opposition

Two of Australian Opposition Leader Tony Abbott’s daughters have publicly backed same-sex marriage in a press interview despite their father’s opposition to gay couples having the right to wed

Australian Opposition Leader Tony Abbott’s own daughters disagree with him on the issue of marriage equality, with two of them going public in saying that gay couples should be allowed to marry.

March 22, 2013
American Academy of Pediatrics declares support for same-sex marriage

American scientific study shows that same-sex marriage is in the best interests of children

The American Academy of Pediatrics declared its support for same-sex marriage yesterday when it published a report showing that children will benefit if their parents are allowed to marry.

March 20, 2013
Australian Marriage Equality campaign finds official song

Cover of Same Love adds voice to the fight for same-sex marriage in Australia

The campaign for marriage equality in Australia has found an official song in singer Cam Nacson and rapper L-FRESH The Lion's cover of Same Love.

The lyrics have been adapted to express frustration at the political stalling around same-sex marriage in Australia.

March 18, 2013
Australian Liberal MP says she supports gay marriage and her party's policy will 'evolve'

More support for marriage equality from Australia's conservative Liberal party hints opposing coalition might change policy before September's general election

An Australian Liberal MP has come out in support of same-sex marriage and said that her party will 'evolve in step with society's views'.

Speaking in parliament this morning, MP for Higgins (near Melbourne) Kelly O'Dwyer said she believes the Marriage Act should be changed to allow same-sex couples to marry.

'I believe that changing the Marriage Act by extending the definition to include same-sex couples will not lessen the status of families,' O'Dwyer said.  

March 2, 2013
Australian state inquiry into marriage equality breaks submissions record

The number of submissions to a parliamentary inquiry into same-sex marriage in the Australian state of New South Wales has broken all previous records, with over 7,500 people taking part

Over 7,500 submissions were made into a New South Wales (NSW) state parliament inquiry into the possibility of legalizing same-sex marriage under state law while the Australian Government refuses to move on the issue.

The number of submissions made was the most ever received by a parliamentary inquiry and was more than three times bigger than the previous record holder.

Australian advocates for marriage equality welcomed the overwhelming support for marriage equality demonstrated by the number of submissions.

February 22, 2013
Gay marriage ban is not sex discrimination, Australian judge rules

Federal court judge Jayne Jagot rules same-sex marriage ban is lawful as both sexes are treated equally

A judge ruled yesterday that the ban on same-sex marriage in Australia does not constitute sex discrimination.

Gay rights activist Simon Margan brought a legal challenge against the Australian government and the states of Queensland and New South Wales for not allowing same-sex marriage. 

February 19, 2013
Sydney MP condemns Australian Christian Lobby

Former national convener of Australian Marriage Equality calls on MPs to join him condemning lobby group who said being gay was less healthy than smoking

MP for Sydney Alex Greenwich has introduced a motion to parliament condemning the conduct of the Australian Christian Lobby over the past 12 months.

'The Australian Christian Lobby has misrepresented the views of Australia’s Christian community for far too long and it is time their credibility was challenged,' said Greenwich.

February 6, 2013
UK vote inspires Australian Greens to put forward another marriage bill

Australia’s Greens party will put forward another bill to introduce marriage equality after being inspired by a successful vote on the issue in the British House of Commons

The Australian Greens say a successful vote on marriage equality in the British House of Commons has inspired them to move forward with another bill on marriage equality despite previous bills being defeated in the Parliament when the Australian Opposition refused its members a conscience vote.

The House of Commons passed its bill on Tuesday in a vote of 400 to 175 votes.

January 30, 2013
Australian general election called

Marriage equality will be a key issue, say advocates

Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced today that Australians will vote for the next government on 14 September this year.

Gillard said she has given such long notice before the election, some say the longest in history, so that the year's political debates can be 'not of fevered campaign but of cool and reasoned deliberation'.

Australian Marriage Equality said gay marriage will be a key issue in the election.

January 22, 2013
Obama's speech challenges Australian leaders, says gay marriage advocate

Obama's speech tells Australia's leaders that 'by opposing marriage equality they oppose the foundational, democratic values of societies like our own' says Australia Marriage Equality

Australian Marriage Equality has hailed President Obama's unequivocal support for full gay equality and said it challenges Australia's prime minister and opposition leader to do the same.

'Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law – for if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well,' said Obama in his second inauguration speech.

January 1, 2013
Get ready for gay marriage in Australia in 2013, says Croome

Australian Marriage Equality convener Rodney Croome predicts wedding bells for gay couples under state law in 2013

Same-sex couples will likely be able to marry in Australia under a state or territory law in 2013, gay marriage advocates have predicted.

It comes after a year of great progress for same-sex marriage in Europe, the US and South America. And 2013 looks set to be even more significant.

December 21, 2012
Australian marriage equality advocates send Christmas message

Marriage equality advocates in Australia are encouraging people to talk about the importance of marriage equality when they spend time with their family these holidays

High profile Australian supporters of marriage equality have joined forces to encourage people to talk about the importance of letting gays and lesbians marry when they spend time with family this holiday season.

A new online video campaign by advocacy group Australian Marriage Equality (AME) features Tasmanian Premier Lara Giddings, Labor Senator Louise Pratt, Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, former Australian Medical Association head Professor Kerryn Phelps, independent Sydney MP Alex Greenwich and NSW Greens Legislative Council member Cate Faehrmann.

December 20, 2012
Australian first as sitting MP marries partner in Spain

South Australian MP Ian Hunter has become the first Australian politician to enter into a same-sex marriage while in office

South Australian state MP Ian Hunter has married his long time partner Leith Semmens, in the process becoming the first Australian politician to enter into a same-sex marriage while in office.

The couple travelled out of Australia, which still bans same-sex nuptials, to the Spanish city of Granada for their ceremony, which was presided over by the mayor of the municipality of Jun, Jose Antonio Rodriguez Salas.

17 friends and relatives travelled to Spain for the ceremony, which the couple told AFP was not in anyway a political stunt.

December 18, 2012
Australian Marriage Equality launches new branch

New branch in the state of Victoria will take campaign back to the grassroots

Same-sex marriage campaign group Australian Marriage Equality (AME) have launched a new branch in the state of Victoria.

'Support for marriage equality has always been strong in Melbourne, and we aim to channel that support into  more effective lobbying, advocacy and community organizing,' said the new convener of the Victorian AME branch, Carl Katter.

AME Victoria's first initiative will be collecting signatures for a petition for marriage equality to send to state parliament.

December 2, 2012
More states move forward on marriage equality in Australia

Western Australia has become the latest state to have same-sex marriage legislation before its parliament, while the state parliament of New South Wales will hold an inquiry into the constitutionality of having state-level same-sex marriage

Australian marriage equality advocates have welcomed the introduction of a bill to legalize same-sex marriage into the Western Australian state parliament by Greens' party Upper House member Lynn MacLaren, bringing to six the total number of states and territories moving forward on the issue.

November 25, 2012
Thousands march for marriage equality in Australia

Thousands took to the streets this weekend in support of marriage equality, while the Australian Green party pledged to move legislation in every parliament in the land

Nearly a thousand people marched for marriage equality in central Sydney on Sunday, with thousands more marching in other cities over the weekend.

Speakers at the rally included New South Wales (NSW) state Upper House Greens MP Cate Faehrmann, Australian Marriage Equality (AME) national convener Rodney Croome and Vietnam veteran and father to a gay son Jeff Thomas who has previously challenged the Australian Prime Minister and Opposition Leader to explain their opposition on live TV.