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
Click here for gay marriage resources in Australia.
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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

Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources in Australia.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook - just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you'll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We're also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

Green Party Tells Austrian Government Time Running Out on Gay Marriage Pledge

The Greens today (Mon) warned the government was in danger of breaking its promise of a new law on gay marriages by 1 January 2010. Greens’ justice spokesman Albert Steinhauser said "time was running out" for the new law. He added civil partnerships would also give heterosexual couples a less demanding alternative to marriage in a permanent relationship. Civil partnerships, he said, would give couples the right to financial support only during their duration and would be easier to dissolve than marriage. He said homosexual couples should not be given preferential treatment but have the same rights and obligations as heterosexual couples. Full Story from the Austrian Times: http://austriantimes.at/news/General_News/2009-10-12/17143/Greens_warning_over_homosexual_marriage_

Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook - just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you'll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We're also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.