FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
29 June 2005
Same Sex Marriage Legal All Over Canada
Canada today became
the fourth country in the world to legislate to
allow same sex marriage. The Same Sex Marriage Bill
or C-38 passed through the Canadian House of Commons
easily with a vote of 158 for and only 133 against.
AME National
Convenor Luke Gahan has welcomed the legislation and
sent congratulation to the many Canadians who have
been working very hard for this day to arrive.
“This is a great
day, not only for Canada but for same sex couples
around the world who can now legally marry under
Canadian Federal Law”, said Mr Gahan.
The successful
passage of federal same sex marriage legislation has
brought marriage equality to the two remaining
provinces and one territory who until today did not
allow same sex marriage.
“We're a nation of
minorities and in a nation of minorities you don't
cherry-pick rights”, said Prime Minister Paul Martin
of Canada.
Canada joins the
Netherlands, Belgium and Spain in allowing same sex
marriage nationally whilst civil unions for same sex
couples have recently been enacted in both New
Zealand and the United Kingdom.
Same sex couples in
Australia remain completely unrecognised by the
Commonwealth Government.
“Today the Canadian
Parliament has become a world leader in human rights
by granting same sex couples complete equality under
federal law. It is such a shame that this leaves
Australia once again at the bottom of the ladder”,
said Mr Gahan.
Australian Marriage
Equality believes that there is absolutely no reason
or barrier preventing Australia from passing similar
legislation allowing complete marriage equality for
Australians.
“The Netherlands
have had marriage equality since April 2001 and
there is absolutely no evidence to suggest that same
sex marriage has damaged or weakened Dutch society
in any way”, said Mr Gahan.
On 13 August it
will be one year since the Australian federal
parliament passed laws to ban the recognition of
foreign same sex marriages. Protests and rallies
calling for Australian same sex marriage are being
planned by AME and other community groups across the
nation.
“Same sex couples
in our nation contribute to Australian society just
like other couples. It is time the federal
parliament gave us the equality and recognition that
we deserve”, said Mr Gahan.
