Rights lobby says Federal Government is homophobic
For immediate release: 6 June 2006
The Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby has accused the Federal Government of homophobia and bowing to the prejudices of far-right religious groups in overturning the ACT civil union legislation.
"This is a slap in the face for the tens of thousands of same-sex couples, not only in the ACT, but around Australia, who continue to be treated as second-class citizens by our Government", said spokesperson Gerard Brody. "The Federal Government seems intent on establishing itself as the most discriminatory government in the developed world".
Mr Brody said that civil unions are different to marriage and that the Attorney-General was wrong to cite this as a reason to overturn the legislation. "They are completely different institutions, with civil unions increasingly being used around the world as the way in which same-sex relationships are formally recognised. There is no legal or constitutional conflict between the ACT legislation and the Federal Marriage Act".
The VGLRL continues to lobby all levels of government to remove discrimination against same-sex couples and formally recognise same-sex relationships.
Mr Brody said that the Federal Government would not be able to overturn similar state laws on relationship recognition, which currently already exist in Tasmania. "If they tried to overturn state civil unions, then a High Court challenge would ensue".
For further information, contact Gerard Brody on 0417 484 438 or Ron Thiele.
For immediate release: 6 June 2006
The Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby has accused the Federal Government of homophobia and bowing to the prejudices of far-right religious groups in overturning the ACT civil union legislation.
"This is a slap in the face for the tens of thousands of same-sex couples, not only in the ACT, but around Australia, who continue to be treated as second-class citizens by our Government", said spokesperson Gerard Brody. "The Federal Government seems intent on establishing itself as the most discriminatory government in the developed world".
Mr Brody said that civil unions are different to marriage and that the Attorney-General was wrong to cite this as a reason to overturn the legislation. "They are completely different institutions, with civil unions increasingly being used around the world as the way in which same-sex relationships are formally recognised. There is no legal or constitutional conflict between the ACT legislation and the Federal Marriage Act".
The VGLRL continues to lobby all levels of government to remove discrimination against same-sex couples and formally recognise same-sex relationships.
Mr Brody said that the Federal Government would not be able to overturn similar state laws on relationship recognition, which currently already exist in Tasmania. "If they tried to overturn state civil unions, then a High Court challenge would ensue".
For further information, contact Gerard Brody on 0417 484 438 or Ron Thiele.
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