Lesbian relationships in Australia received welcome recognition yesterday after two bills enforcing equality were passed through the Senate.
The amendments expanded the terms “de facto relationship”, “parent”, “step-parent” and “relative” to include same-sex couples giving them equal rights on a number of issues.
Superannuation entitlements, Medicare health safety nets, social security, tax, and employment were some of the areas where gay and lesbian couples would receive equal rights.
Openly gay Labor Senator Penny Wong said her Government had followed through on last year’s election promises to remove discrimination from Commonwealth laws.
“They deliver, on an important day for us, on a very important election commitment”, she said.
“More importantly, they will deliver the sort of equality before the law that same-sex couples have never previously experienced.”
Liberal opposition Senator George Brandis acknowledged the significance of the bills saying they would complete law reform in the area of same-sex relationships which began 40 years ago when homosexual relationships were decriminalised.
Senator Bob Brown, leader of the Australian Greens and also openly gay, was not so commending.
While he congratulated the Government he was scathing of their lack of leadership to include equality in same-sex marriage.
“Both the older parties have a task to undertake: to communicate better with the Australian community and to understand that the pressure coming from sectional groups, minority groups, to sanction marriage for all couples regardless has great public support”, he said.
A poll taken by Australasia’s largest online lesbian dating and community site Pink Sofa supported Senator Brown’s sentiments with 88 per cent of the more than 4000 respondents wanting same sex marriages legalised.
Pink Sofa member Jenny Ball was thrilled with the outcome but also wanted more.
“This really is a milestone for the Australian Gay and Lesbian Community and is something that has been long-awaited and now brings us in line with a number of other forward-thinking countries,” she said.
“The next key step is for the Government to ratify the laws that currently prevent same-sex marriage, thereby removing the final piece of discrimination and marginalisation against the Community”.
Marriage for same-sex couples remains on the horizon however with the Rudd Labour Government as well as the Opposition refusing to be swayed by public opinion.
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