Just as “Conservative Moralists” misconstrue same-sex marriage here in the United States, so has another politician in Australia since the ACT law was passed earlier this month which recognizes same-sex civil unions.
Family First Senator Steve Fielding spoke out against same-sex unions and the passage of the ACT law a day after the first legally recognized same-sex civil union took place in Canberra and equated it to incest.
”A bloke cannot marry his brother; it is not right,” he said. ”A woman cannot marry their sister; it is not right. A bloke cannot marry a bloke because it is not right, and a female cannot marry a female because it is not right. I don’t support this.” Fielding said.
More on this story at Brisbane Times and the original posting about ACT here at Focus On The Rainbow.
In a surprise move on Thursday, the Australian government will not overturn laws allowing same-sex civil unions.
Australia Attorney General Robert McClelland said the government has decided not to intervene after the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) agreed to minor changes to its gay union laws requiring couples to register before a ceremony.
The national government has twice quashed the ACT’s attempts to instigate legally recognised same-sex unions on the grounds that Australia’s marriage law says weddings must be between a man and a woman.
“The discussions between the Australian governmentand the ACT government about the Civil Partnerships Act were conducted in good faith, and the matter has been resolved satisfactorily,” McClelland’s office said in a statement according to the AFP News Service.
Two men took advantage of the laws this week to become Australia’s first same-sex couple to hold a legally recognised civil partnership ceremony, 20 years after first falling in love.
“We thought we’d take this opportunity not only for gay couples Australia wide … but just for human rights,” said Warren McGaw of his union to partner, Chris Rumble.
Meanwhile Buenos Aires, Argentina prepares for its first same-sex marriage on December 1, in another story from AFP.
A gay man tying the knot next week in Latin America’s first same-sex marriage predicted Thursday that his ground-breaking wedding will inspire other homosexual couples to follow suit.
“Our December 1 civil wedding service will launch a new campaign in the coming months in different major cities to allow same-sex couples to do the same,” said Alejandro Freyre, 39, at a press conference here.
An Argentine judge paved the way for the region’s first gay marriage earlier this month when she granted Freyre and his partner Jose Maria Di Bello, 41, permission to marry.
