Australian Marriage Equality (AME)
has condemned
the latest instruction given to
registered marriage celebrants by
the Attorney-General, Philip
Ruddock, as damaging to the
institution of marriage.
The
Attorney-General's Department
recently advised registered marriage
celebrants that they are now
required to announce at all weddings
the Australian legal definition of
marriage, amended in August 2004, as
being exclusively "between a man and
a woman".
"The Government has
already tarnished the institution of
marriage in Australia by excluding
same-sex couples", said AME national
convener, Peter Furness.
"There will be many couples who will
be greatly embarrassed to have this
statement made at their wedding in
the presence of gay and lesbian
relatives and friends.
"This will clearly place many
opposite-sex couples intending to
marry in a very difficult position
and some will choose, as a
result, not to marry at all.
Mr
Furness said that the continual
attacks by the government on
same-sex couples wanting to or
already married was
becoming obsessive.
