Australians support same-sex marriage, say advocates
Advocates for same-sex marriage have challenged Federal Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, to say how much support for marriage equality is necessary before the Rudd Government reverses its opposition to reform.
Australian Marriage Equality (AME) spokesperson, Alex Greenwich, said Mr McClelland had written to the group justifying Australia’s laws against same-sex marriage on the grounds that they ‘reflect the widely held view in the community that marriage is between a man and a woman’.
Mr Greenwich disagrees. ‘According to a nationwide Galaxy Poll published in June 2007, 57% of Australians support same-sex marriage’, Mr Greenwich said.
‘Another Galaxy Poll released last week shows 54% of people in what many regard as Australia’s most conservative state, Queensland, also support equal marriage.’
‘We have written back to Mr McClelland demanding to know exactly how high support for marriage equality must be before his Government pays attention and removes existing discrimination.’
AME also criticises the Federal Government’s refusal to grant the necessary documents to Australians entering same-sex marriages overseas, and objects to rules restricting registered marriage celebrants from expressing support for equal marriage.
‘Recognition of financial and workplace entitlements is welcome, but until the Federal Government removes marriage discrimination it will have failed the gay and lesbian community,’ said Mr Greenwich.
