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Today was a special day in Australia. The same-sex marriage debate has been going on for years. Despite the fact that our Federal Parliament has to pass legislation to allow it, they insisted on a $120million voluntary postal vote of everyone on the electoral roll, and today the results were announced. 80% of eligible people voted, 61.6% voted 'Yes' and 38.4% voted 'No'. The Prime Minister has promised that legislation will be passed through parliament before Christmas. Finally, we have caught up with the rest of the Western world. It's a day for celebration, and the streets were filled with rainbow banners and flags.
Comments
It was nice that it passed
It was nice that it passed and all, but I could have done without the constant coverage on the news and radio stations. Then again I'm a crotchety old bugger at the best of times when it comes to TV and radio.
Political holdouts
I am glad about the results of this postal survey.
The Prime Minister still has a long way to go before finishing this legislative exercise.
We know from past experience how the previous PM said that he would not interfere with the new PM and he has said that he would listen to the voters and not interfere. I will not hold my breath on that one. There are several other members of the house that have been notably on the 'NO' side of this debate - I hope they will listen to the will of Australia as well.
Hopefully the parliamentary process from today will proceed quickly and without a bumpy passage through both houses...
Robyn B
Sydney
The "NO" Voters Will Not Give Up
Never mind the will of the people, they will continue to put obstacles in the path of legislation to enable Same Sex Marriage. All the usual "Religious Freedom" claptrap will be trotted out ad nauseam.
I certainly don't expect the issue to be satisfactorily resolved before Christmas, but then I'm a cynic.
Look at Germany
Bronwen, if you think Australia was backward, Germany is a lot worse in some respects.
In 1982 a law was passedd for the "treatment" of cases of transseuxality. They forgot, though, that some idiotic clause in the registry laws said that a persons name has to be a clear indication of the persons sex. That has not been changed till today and means, that you have to fight that law in court, when you want to change your legal name to female during the period they demand, before they "allow " you to change with surgery.
Legal Counsels from all over the republic have been trying to change this since 1982, but the parliament, due to the ruling "Christian" Democratic Union (CDU) and "Christian" Social Union (CSU in Bavaria) has never manged to unite on a new wording.
So, while in the UK you make a deed poll (very simple procedure that doesn't cost anything) and then get new documents in your feminine name in Germany you can fight for years at high cost and still need two independent psychiatric or psycholgical (in that case someone specialised for transgender) assessments to be finally allowed to carry a female name when you are not operated. Your Document will still quote the wrong gender for the name though. Pretty medieval, huh?
Monique S