The passage through the House of Representatives (today, Thursday May 31) of my Motion regarding marriage equality was a modest but significant step towards ending the legislated discrimination in the Marriage Act.
The Motion makes it clear that any amendment to the Marriage Act should in no way compel any church to wed same-sex couples. In itself this is important because the churches are private organisations whose rights must be respected.
But the Motion is also important in the way that it reflects the inevitability of same-sex couples one day being allowed to legally marry. That the Motion was successful is indicative of the widespread support in both the Parliament and the broader community for that change.
• AUSTRALIAN MARRIAGE EQUALITY
Media Release
Thursday May 31st 2012
AUSTRALIAN PARLIAMENT CONFIRMS CHURCHES WILL NOT HAVE TO MARRY SAME-SEX COUPLES
One of the most most persistent fears raised by the prospect of same-sex marriage has been laid to rest today.
Federal parliament today voted in favour of a motion from Tasmanian independent, Andrew Wilkie, which confirms that religious celebrants will not be forced to perform same-sex marriages should such marriages be allowed.
Australian Marriage Equality national convener, Alex Greenwich, said,
“Today’s motion confirms that people of faith have nothing to fear from marriage equality.”
“Parliament has made it crystal clear that it will not force religious celebrants to act against their religious values and that churches will continue to be able to define marriage as they choose.”
Today’s motion was passed by the House of Representatives without the need for a vote.
It already has the support of fifteen clergy from several different faiths and denominations who wrote to all members of the House of Representatives urging hem to support the motion.
The successful motion said:
“Should the Marriage Act be amended to allow same-sex marriages the amendments should ensure the Marriage Act imposes no obligation on a minister of religion to solemnise such marriages.”
The vote comes as NSW Parliament’s Upper House voted in favour of a marriage equality motion, that also included religious protections (full details here)
