LGBTQ rights in Australia
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Gay rights in Australia are similar to several similar democracies. Homosexual sex is legal, legislation exists against some forms of discrimination against gays, but same-sex relationships may not receive the same level of government recognition as heterosexual relationships.
History of activist groups
- An Australian arm of the Daughters of Bilitis, formed in 1969 in Melbourne, is considered Australia's first gay rights organisation.
- Society Five was a gay rights organisation formed in Melbourne in 1971.
- The Gay Teachers Group was a gay rights organisation started in the late 1970s.
- The Homosexual Law Reform Coalition was a gay rights group started in the late 1970s.
Gay rights under the Keating ministry
- A law in Tasmania prohibiting homosexual sex was overturned by federal legislation.
Gay rights under the Howard ministry
- The Marriage Act 1961 and the Family Law Act were amended in order to define marriage as a "union of a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life". Amendments were also made to prevent the recognition in Australia of marriages conducted in other countries between a man and another man or a woman and another woman.
- Superannuation legislation recognised "interdependent relationships", which included same-sex relationships.
- The Australian Defence Force gave recognition to "interdependent relationships", which included same-sex relationships.[1]
- In 2006, Peter Costello outraged gay rights campaigners during a lecture at the Sydney Institute when questioned about the government's failure to legally recognise same sex partnerships. Peter Costello said, "I think we do recognise the rights of gay and lesbian people in Australia. We do not criminalise [their] conduct or behaviour."[2]
See also
External links
References
- "Extension of ADF conditions of service to ADF members in recognised interdependent relationships", Australian Defence Force bulletin, 2005-10-21. URL retrieved 2006-01-12.
- ^ Gay marriage comments 'appalling', Sydney Morning Herald web site, 2006-02-23.
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