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Wednesday, 9 May 2012
Page: 2952

Same-Sex Marriage

To the Honourable President and members of the Senate in Parliament assembled:

This petition of the undersigned draws the attention of the Senate to:

the failure of the Marriage Act 1961 (Cth) to allow marriages to be solemnised between partners of the same sex;

the failure of the Marriage Act 1961 (Cth) to recognise same-sex marriages solemnised in other countries;

the great harm this does to same-sex partners and their families by discriminating against them, perpetuating prejudice and stigma, and entrenching a second-class legal status;

the harm this does to. children of same-sex couples because their families are denied the legal security and societal recognition that marriage can provide;

the harm this does to marriage by associating it with discrimination; and,

the fact that an increasing number of other countries allow same-sex marriage, and most Australians support it.

Your petitioners ask that the Senate:

amend the Marriage Act 1961 (Cth) so that marriages may be solemnised, and overseas marriage recognised, regardless of the sex or gender of the partners concerned.

by Senator Humphries (from 100 citizens).