Marriage-Equality Bills Coming Up In Australia, But Support Is Disorganized
It’s great that Australia is finally coming around to gay marriage, but what the heck is up with their government’s bill-sponsoring process?
According to News.com.au, four (4!) gay-marriage bills are scheduled to come up next Monday. Here’s the breakdown:
The Senate already is enquiring into a gay marriage bill presented by the Greens Sarah Hanson-Young.
Labor MP Stephen Jones will introduce the “official” private members bill—that is, one not officially sponsored by the Government—but certain to get preference in the House of Representatives on Monday.
However, the Greens Adam Bandt and independent Andrew Wilkie will jointly present a similar bill the same day.
In addition, Mr. Wilkie will propose legislation which would exempt religions from having to marry same sex partners.
Common sense would say all these new bills should be run as one, but Labor isn’t keen to support the Green and the independent.
Letting petty political differences divide you on an important social issue—good job, Australia. Stay tuned while all these bills bubble up, but don’t expect a vote anytime soon. That won’t happen until the second half of the year.
Photo via Josh Berglund
Lets see: No same-sex marriage California to yes same-sex marriage to no same-sex marriage to possibly yes to same-sex marriage.
Hawaii, the first state supreme court to rule gays/lesbians should be able to marry, to constitutional amendment denying same-sex marriage.
Massachusetts yes to equal marriage rights but not necessarily the word marriage, the legislature ignores the Supreme Judicial Court, so the Court then directs same-sex marriage, only to have the governor and legislature attempt to override.
Maine yes to same-sex marriage, oh wait, citizens veto so no same-sex marriage. Neighbor New Hampshire, yes to same-sex marriage, oh wait, Republicans take over, so lets watch them try to undo same-sex marriage.
New Jersey Supreme Court, hey legislature, make it equal. Oh, NJ democrats, slow down gays/lesbians, we need to remain in office to make that happen. Oops, Republicans take over governorship, so gays/lesbians fucked by new Catholic bigot Christie.
New York, 3 times its Assembly votes for marriage equality; 3 times the Senate refused to take a vote. Then when the Senate does vote, 7 Democrat traitors vote NO. Finally, new governor makes it happen.
31 States with constitutional amendments denying same-sex marriage.
Newest to same-sex marriage, Washington, most likely will face citizens’ veto in November election.
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That is some nerve critiquing Australia and its legislative policies and practices.
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Cheers to Australia, as I imagine they will have full marriage equality nation-wide long before we will here in the Land of the Free where we are supposed to have the inalienable right to pursue our own happiness.
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The problem with marriage equality in Australia at the moment is that there aren’t enough votes for it to pass. The Labor Party are giving their members a conscience vote, while the Coalition are not. That means if a bill were voted on now, maybe 1/3 of Labor members would vote against it, but all Coalition members would have to vote against it.
That’s why these bills are being stalled, so we can lobby the Coalition to allow a conscience vote.
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Also, the advantage in Australia is that marriage is the sole responsibility of the federal government under our constitution, unlike in the US. That means we only have to focus on one government to change the law, rather than 50. Of course, as is the case at the moment, if that government (and opposition party) isn’t willing to change, it’s difficult to make progress piecemeal.
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@Mike in Asheville: And let’s not forget, the UK will probably get it before the end of 2015.
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Australia is horribly disorganized when it comes to gay rights. The gay rights groups over there are like a dog’s breakfast. There’s also a lack of passion.
In fact, I’d say that Australia has some of the worst gay rights organizations in the Western world. Instead of fighting for gay marriage rights, Australia’s gays seem more interested in the crowd numbers they’ll get for Mardi Gras.
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@Matt That is wrong, repealing the Defence of Marriage Act legalises same-sex marriage in every state (that will never happen though! Seriously? Gay marriage in Texas? You gotta be kidding me). Also in Australia a state cannot legalise it, otherwise South Australia and New South Wales would have at the state level(theyre the most progressive states).
@Mike in Asheville Actually Australia is still quite backward. I am from Lynchburg, VA but live in Adelaide, Australia and I find that even though it is not as bad here and they are less religious, there is still a strong opposition to it here. It is less likely that you will have someone tell you that you will go to hell or that its a mental disease to be gay but there still are a lot of “family values” folks and I think pushing for civil partnerships (similar to the UK and Germany) is the best option for now. Hopefully by 2020 equal marriage wont be an issue in either USA or Aust.
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yaaaa!!! baby kangaroooo!!!!
oh to be able to stuff it in my pouch. many of the guys coming to this site already could.
oh, ahem, and yes fair dinkum to the other thing that maybe happening or possibly not happening. yes good luck.