FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
1 July 2005
Same-Sex Marriage Legal In Spain
Spain has beaten
Canada in becoming the third country in the world to
legalise same sex marriage. The legislation passed
the 350-seat Congress of Deputies by a vote of
187-147 with four abstentions.
AME National
Convenor Luke Gahan has welcomed the successful
passage of same sex marriage legislation in Spain.
“This week will go
down in human rights history. Canada and Spain have
shown the rest of the world that it can and will be
done”, said Mr Gahan.
The Spanish
legislation will now move from the Congress of
Deputies to receive Royal Assent from the King and
become law within days.
"We were not the
first, but I am sure we will not be the last. After
us will come many other countries, driven, ladies
and gentlemen, by two unstoppable forces; freedom
and equality," said Prime Minister Jose Luis
Rodriguez Zapatero.
Canada who earlier
this week passed same sex marriage through their
federal House of Commons must now wait for the bill
to be approved by the Senate.
Today as the Howard
Government takes control of both houses of
parliament, same sex couples in Australia remain
completely unrecognised by the Commonwealth.
“Our families now
receive greater recognition whilst holidaying in
Europe and Canada then when we are at home in
Australia contributing to our own country and
society”, said Mr Gahan.
“This week the
Prime Ministers of Canada and Spain have called same
sex marriage a matter of equality. John Howard,
Australians are waiting for you to grant us the same
freedoms”, 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.
