Bandt's opposition to national civil unions welcomed / Vow to continue equality fight applauded

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 21:07:30 GMT

Australian marriage equality advocates have welcomed comments from Green MHR-elect Adam Bandt opposing a national civil union scheme as a substitute for full marriage equality because it would "entrench two-tiers of relationships". Yesterday on Melbourne radio station JOY 94.9 FM Mr Bandt said he would not support any proposal for a national civil union scheme instead of marriage equality because "it may be that we only get one shot at this, and it may be that that...

Shoddy Newsspeak substitutions

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 00:19:29 GMT

A Bill allowing same-sex couples to be assessed as potential adoptive parents has narrowly passed the NSW Lower House. This is an important step forward. If the Bill passes the Upper House, NSW will join ACT and WA in allowing full equality in adoption (and Tas in allowing step-parent adoption). Opponents of reform have been out in force...

Bat-ball-home

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 03:39:01 GMT

The Tasmanian Lower House has amended the state�s Relationships Act so that personal unions from interstate and overseas will now be recognised as Deeds of Relationship (the local term for civil partnerships). This is an important practical reform. It means that couples from other places will now have their personal unions

A vote for equality

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 22:06:58 GMT

Saturday�s election result was a vote for marriage equality. Labor, which opposes full equality but support substitutes, suffered a dramatic decrease in support, particularly in inner-city electorates where the issue has the highest levels of support. The Liberals, who also oppose equality and have traditionally beaten up on the issue to win support, experienced a swing in their favour,...

'Christian heritage'

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 21:25:50 GMT

Prime Minister Julia Gillard continues to escalate her rhetoric against marriage equality right up to tomorrow�s federal poll. To divert the attention of Christian conservatives from the �no God, no husband, no children� thing, she has declared she opposes marriage equality out of respect for Australia�s �Christian...

Really moving forward

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 22:45:07 GMT

While the 2010 federal election will go down in history as the moment marriage equality shot, seemingly from nowhere, to the centre of the national political stage, there are other equally important issues for LGBTI people. These include improved protections from discrimination at a national level, more resources for tackling prejudice, discrimination, exclusion and the health problems they create, and formalised liaison with the Federal Government. The state and territory...

The hard decision

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 12:56:13 GMT

Julia Gillard must be pleased Tony Abbott has finally come under the marriage equality spot light. Last night on the ABC�s Q&A a Vietnam Vet, supporter of Liberal philosophy and father of a gay son took Abbott to task over his opposition to equality (click here and ff to 12:40mins). Abbott�s response was no different to usual � same-sex relationships can be just as loving and...

'The power of the churches'

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 21:38:47 GMT

Thousands of Australians have again rallied and marched for marriage equality. This year�s National Day of Action commemorating the ban on same-sex marriage in 2004, saw rallies and marches in all state capitals and several regional centres. Here's some news items and pics from...

Plan B

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 22:03:38 GMT

Many people are understandably disappointed by the major parties� unrelenting resistance to marriage equality during this election campaign. But the silver lining is that the issue has never been more widely discussed, despite AND because of this resistance. Our national leaders� resistance to same-sex marriage is now a staple of

The finest of lines

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 20:34:37 GMT

While some Labor and Liberal election candidates have made it clear they support marriage equality, others are walking the finest of lines. Take sitting ALP candidate, Michael Danby, in the seat of Melbourne Ports, one of the gayest in the nation (with three openly gay candidates standing!). I...

Rodney Croome . gay advocate