Australia: 5,000 Gather in Sydney for Naked Photo Shoot in Equality Protest

More than 5000 people have gathered in front of the Sydney Opera House to be photographed nude in the name of art and diversity today. A pregnant woman was among the first group of Australians to take their place on the steps of the Opera House just after dawn in photographer Spencer Tunick's latest installation, Mardi Gras: The Base.

Mardi Gras festival executive producer Danielle Harvey said 5200 people, including sportspeople, doctors, teachers and retirees, had lined up to take part. "We were expecting 2000 or so ... we're absolutely thrilled," Ms Harvey said.

Tan lines were the most prominent feature of the Australian line up, which whooped and cheered its way onto the Opera House forecourt in lines in cool, cloudy conditions.

Full Story from the Sydney Morning Herald
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Australia: Senate Votes 45-5 Against Gay Marriage, 26 Absent

The Australian Senate today rejected a bill to give equal marriage rights to gay citizens. The bill was introduced by the Greens but was defeated 45-5, just days before the world’s biggest gay celebration, Sydney Mardi Gras. Twenty-six senators were absent from the vote, with some of these choosing to abstain because they disagreed with their parties’ official stances against same-sex marriage.

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, who introduced the bill, said: ”There may have been a group of senators voting to keep discrimination against same-sex couples being able to marry the one they love, but well over one-third of all senators were absent for the final vote, presumably the only form of protest open to them.”

Marriage equality campaigners claim that 60 per cent of Australian citizens support the right of gay couples to marry. Alex Greenwich of Australian Marriage Equality, said it was “arrogant” of Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd to “ignore” the public.

Full Story from Pink News
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Australia: NSW Plans to Create Domestic Partner Registry

Gay and unmarried heterosexual couples will soon be able to sign up to a relationships register in New South Wales, designed to make it easier for them to access legal entitlements. The State Government has announced it is introducing legislation to create the register, modelled on those already in place in the ACT, Victoria and Tasmania.

NSW Attorney General John Hatzistergos says unlike the ACT, the state will not provide for civil unions. "The Commonwealth has the responsibility for marriage generally," he said.

"What we're trying to do here is provide a simple and dignified mechanism for people to be able to have their relationships recorded, whether they are same-sex or heterosexual, and to be able to facilitate access to the family court system, but also to various entitlements under state and federal law."

Full Story from ABC News
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Australia: Green Party Calls for Conscience Vote on Gay Marriage

Tony Abbott likes to talk freely about sex so he should let his colleagues do the same on the issue of gay marriage, the Australian Greens say. A bill to alter the Marriage Act, introduced by Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young last year, is likely to be debated in the Senate next week.

The debate follows a record-breaking Senate inquiry, which received 27,000 submissions both for and against same-sex marriage. Senator Hanson-Young says it's a hot topic that should be put to a conscience vote in the Senate. "Both Labor and the coalition have argued that same-sex marriage is a moral issue, so the bill should be treated that way," she told AAP.

"And a free vote would allow MPs to express how they really feel."

Full Story from Smh.com.au
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Australia: Celebrities Join Marriage Equality Fight

Some famous Australian faces have launched an awareness campaign about same-sex law reforms, but they say there is still plenty of work to be done. Celebrities both gay and straight today gathered on the steps of the Sydney Opera House to launch the Wear it with Pride campaign.

Singer Natalie Bassingthwaighte and Professor Kerryn Phelps were among the personalities in support of the changes and spoke about how the reforms had affected them personally.

The 85 reforms to Commonwealth Laws came into effect over the first half of last year, covering areas such as superannuation, employee entitlements and child support. Graeme Innes was the Australian human rights commissioner at the time the reforms were being negotiated and says they are meaningless unless people are aware of them.

Full Story from ABC News
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Australia: Group Calculates Cost of Gay Marriage Ban to Country: $700 Million

Australia's ban on same-sex marriage costs the Australian economy over $700 million according to figures released today by Australian Marriage Equality (AME). Using a simple formula developed by economists in the United States, AME has multiplied the average cost of weddings in Australia with the percentage of Australia's same-sex couples who would marry if they had the choice.

The last Census indicated that there are at least 50,000 same-sex couples, however the Bureau of Statistics admits that the actual figure would higher than that due to the way information is recorded. "Not so Private Lives", a recent national study conducted at the University of Queensland, showed that at least 53% of these couples would marry if they could. The ABS in 2007 calculated the average cost of a wedding at $28,000 (although recent studies have the figure as high as $49,000). When you pull these figures together you get an amount of $742,000,000.

AME's figures are in line with recent US studies that have shown allowing same-sex marriage would generate US$200 million for the New Jersey economy over 3 years and US$21 million for the city of San Francisco in 1 year alone.

Full Story from Seeking Media
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Australia: Democratic Party Recommits to Marriage Equality

The Australian Democrats have declared themselves ‘recommitted’ to fighting for the rights of same-sex couples to marry. National President of the Australian Democrats, Julia Melland, said this week there was no justification for Australia’s discriminatory marriage laws, and that it was time to stop telling gays and lesbians how to run their relationships. “There is no justification for keeping Australian oppressed or as second class citizens on the basis of sexual orientation, the majority of Australians support gay marriage, and it does not impact on anyone else’s life at all if a same-sex couple are married,” she said. “In short, I think it is time for those opposed to get over it and stop telling others how to live their lives.” Full Story from SXNews

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Australia: Thousands Gather at Gay Marriage Rallies in Six Cities

Crowds have gathered in Australian cities calling for marriage equality after a bill to endorse gay unions was rejected by the Senate. A Senate inquiry into same-sex marriage on Friday dismissed the Greens' marriage equality bill, while the ACT government this week struck a deal with the federal government to accept a civil union scheme. Australian Marriage Equality spokesman Alex Greenwich said strong attendances by more than 2,000 people at rallies in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, ACT, Adelaide and Lismore on Saturday to launch a national year of action showed positive community support. "I think the bill's rejection has re-energised people's commitment to marriage equality," he told AAP. He said same-sex marriage could become a key issue in the lead-up to the next federal election. Full Story from 9News: http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=977223

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Australia: Committee Recommends Against Gay Marriage

Gay marriage advocates’ hopes were deflated today with the long-awaited Committee of Inquiry into the Marriage Equality Amendment Bill report recommending against same-sex marriage. “The Committee recommends that the Bill not be passed,” the report stated. The Committee said it believes the definition of marriage in the current Marriage Act is appropriate, however, it said other types of relationships play an important part in Australia and deserve recognition. “For this reason, the Committee’s recommendation not to alter the definition of marriage should not be taken as a lack of support for same-sex couples,” the report stated. Full Story from SSO: http://www.starobserver.com.au/news/2009/11/26/committee-says-no-to-marriage/18734

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Australia: Rudd Government Backs Off, Allows ACT Civil Unions to Stand

The Australian federal government has opted not to quash laws allowing legally-binding civil union ceremonies for gay couples in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). After discussions, the government agreed that the ceremonies could remain, although some minor changes have been made. The legislation was passed earlier this month. Gay couples will now have to register their intention to have a civil union ceremony. The changes will be made when the ACT Legislature Assembly next sits but those who tie the knot in the meantime will not be affected. Attorney-general Robert McClelland's office said: "The discussions between the Australian government and the ACT government about the Civil Partnerships Act were conducted in good faith, and the matter has been resolved satisfactorily." Full Story from Pink News: http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/11/26/australian-government-backs-down-on-civil-union-ceremonies/

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Australia: Senator Compares Gay Marriage to Incest

FAMILY First senator Steve Fielding has compared same-sex marriages to incest, as a Senate inquiry yesterday recommended against allowing gay marriage in Australia. A day after the first legally recognised same-sex civil ceremony in Canberra, Senator Fielding spoke out against allowing gay couples to wed. ''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.'' Labor senator Joe Ludwig reiterated the Rudd Government's stance that gay relationships should be recognised across the nation in civil partnership schemes and not with marriage. But Greens leader Bob Brown said the Government was made up of ''undemocratic wowsers'' and ''sad sacks'' who wanted to override the Australian Capital Territory laws allowing gay couples to hold a ceremony to create their legal relationship. Full Story from The Age: http://www.theage.com.au/national/fielding-likens-samesex-marriage-to-incest-20091126-juo3.html

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Australia: Gay Couple First to Be Legally Recognized, But for How Long?

Warren McGaw and Chris Rumble have become the first Australian gay couple to have their civil partnership ceremony legally recognised. The pair, who have been together for nearly 20 years, held their ceremony yesterday afternoon at the Old Parliament House rose gardens in Canberra. They are the first to take advantage of new legislation passed in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) earlier this month. However, the right may not last for long as prime minister Kevin Rudd has said he will overturn the law. MacGaw told ABC News: "We thought we'd take this opportunity not only for gay couples Australia-wide … but just for human rights. I think the majority of Australians are behind us." Full Story from Pink News: http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/11/25/gay-couple-have-australias-first-civil-union/

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Australia: Rudd to Break Campaign Promise Again, Overturn ACT Civil Unions

KEVIN Rudd will move to overturn legislation passed by the ACT government allowing gay couples to hold public, legally binding ceremonies as they form civil unions. In the latest run-in between the commonwealth and the ACT's Labor government on the divisive issue, Chief Minister Jon Stanhope said Attorney-General Robert McClelland had indicated during a recent meeting that the Rudd government would quash the amended legislation. "They are prepared to intervene to overturn the recent amendments to the civil union legislation in the ACT," Mr Stanhope said of his Monday meeting with Mr McClelland. "I indicated bluntly that this was unacceptable." Full Story from The Australian: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/rudd-will-intervene-to-overturn-gay-civil-unions-in-the-act/story-e6frg6n6-1225803463250

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Australia: Senator Says Opponents of Civil Unions Law Bigoted

Australia's only openly gay political leader says it would be "plain bigotry" for the federal government to overturn ACT laws recognising same-sex civil unions. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said on Sunday the government had not ruled out vetoing the laws, which the ACT Legislative Assembly passed earlier in November. Asked about that comment, Australian Greens leader Bob Brown said the ACT legislature's democratic decision needed to be respected. "It would be plain bigotry for Kevin Rudd to overturn the laws and an interference ... an arrogant override of the territory's elected representatives," he told reporters in Canberra. Full Story from smh.com.au: http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/overriding-act-gay-laws-bigoted-brown-20091122-iso8.html

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Australia: Prime Minister Undecided on Veto of ACT Civil Unions Law

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says the Federal Government is still waiting on legal advice to decide if it will block an ACT law that provides for same-sex civil unions. The ACT allows same-sex couples to recognise their relationship with a legally binding ceremony. But it is similar to a bill the Government blocked last year because it was too similar to marriage. Mr Rudd says the Government is still deciding what to do this time. "We'll work our way through all of that once we receive the legal advice from the attorney-general's department," he said. Full Story from ABC News: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/11/22/2750013.htm?section=australia

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Australia: Victorian ALP Passes Resolution in Favor of Gay Marriage

The Victorian ALP has increased pressure on the federal government to allow same-sex marriages after passing a motion supporting gay unions at its state conference. A meeting of the party faithful in Melbourne on Saturday called for the federal government to change the Marriage Act to allow gay couples to marry. A similar motion was passed at Tasmania's state Labor conference in July. The state conference also called on the commonwealth attorney-general to refrain from interfering with the ACT government's steps towards relationship equality. Full Story from smh.com.au: http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/victorian-alp-supports-gay-marriages-20091121-is67.html

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Australia: First Public Hearing on Gay Marriage Held Monday

The Greens have ramped up their push for same-sex marriage as the first, and only, public hearing for the Marriage Equality Amendment Bill Inquiry took place in Melbourne on Monday. Greens leader Bob Brown and party spokeswoman for sexuality and gender identity Senator Sarah Hanson-Young launched a pro-gay marriage postcard campaign at Melbourne University a day earlier, pledging support for gay marriage ahead of next year’s federal election. The postcard features a picture of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and another man arm-in-arm in front of a wedding cake with the words ‘Say I do, Mr Rudd…’ which the Greens will present to the PM. Full Story from SSO: http://www.starobserver.com.au/news/2009/11/10/marriage-battle-showdown/18044

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Australian Celebrities "Come Out" for Gay Rights Legislation in Australia

CELEBRITIES Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Ruby Rose, Richard Reid, Dr Kerryn Phelps, Courtney Act, and Jess and Lisa Origliasso from The Veronicas have been recruited to a Federal Government campaign promoting same-sex law reform. They are the first in a raft of celebrities, which will number 85 in all, who have put their hand up for the campaign, which will be launched in February and will promote the passing of 85 same-sex law reforms. The AIDS Council of NSW (ACON) yesterday announced the celebrity line-up and said it is looking for more influential Australians - both celebrities and opinion leaders - to "come out of the closet" for the Wear It With Pride campaign. Full Story from News.com.au: http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,28383,26305862-5013560,00.html

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Former Australian Labor Party Leader: Get Some Guts on Gay Marriage

Former Governor-General and Labor Party leader Bill Hayden has told the party to get some guts and introduce same-sex marriage. In an opinion piece written for www.thepunch.com.au, Hayden declared his support for same-sex marriage and called for the introduction of federal anti-discrimination laws. “The times are nowhere near as tolerant of and respectful towards [gay and lesbian people] as would be the case if the community accepted them as fully equal,” Hayden wrote. “We allow them a sort of provisional, limited citizenship; freedom on a short leash, as it were. “Yes, homosexual love is now tolerated by the law, but not marriage.”  Speaking to Sydney Star Observer, Hayden said what the Labor Party needed now was “some G-U-T-S”. Full Story from SSO: http://www.starobserver.com.au/news/2009/10/16/hayden-speaks-out-in-support-of-gay-marriage/17235

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Austrailian Report Recommends Establishment of a Human Rights Act for GLBTI Citizens

Gay rights groups have welcomed calls to establish an Australian human rights act, applauding recommendations made in the National Human Rights Consultation report. Federal Attorney-General Robert McClelland accepted the Consultation Committee’s findings after the committee’s 10-month process collecting views from across the country. Australian Coalition for Equality spokesman Corey Irlam hailed the report, containing 31 recommendations, as a “strong” starting point for discussion with the Federal Government on ways to strengthen the rights of GLBTI Australians. “I think it’s important to recognise this consultation was more than just about a human rights act,” Irlam said. Full Story from SSO: http://www.starobserver.com.au/news/2009/10/13/hope-high-for-human-rights-act/17170

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