Adam and Steve (or Madam and Eve)

The ACT Government today introduced into the Legislative Assembly the Civil Unions Bill 2006 which would give same-sex couples functional equality under Territory law with married couples. According to Chief Minister, Jon Stanhope:

“Civil union will deliver equality and symbolic and practical recognition under ACT law for couples who either do not have access to marriage under the Commonwealth Marriage Act 1961 or who prefer not to marry,”

“While the Government imagines that it will be used most frequently by same-sex couples, the legislation is non-discriminatory and the option of entering a civil union will also be open to opposite-sex couples.”

The first civil unions under this legislation are expected by around mid-year.

The ACT legislation is the broadest recognition of the rights of gay couples in Australia.

Mr Stanhope stressed the new laws were about equality and were not an attempt to replace marriage.

Of course, we have opponents of the proposed law, going on about how “God made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve” …. I heard this from a caller on the radio while driving to work this morning (comes from Fred Nile, but most recently from George Pell). Also those claiming that it is an attack on marriage. Update (29/3/2006): The Christian lobby reacted angrily to the proposed laws, claiming they were a deliberate attempt to mock marriage, according to the local paper today).

What a load of crap that is! How much does a gay couple having their relationship recognised legally (call it civil union or marriage or whatever) affect anyone else’s marriage, or the institution of marraige? Not one iota!

Technorati Tags: gay marriage, civil union, ACT, Jon Stanhope