Marriage equality advocates have welcomed the Danish parliament’s decision to allow same-sex couples to marry and moved to reassure opponents of the reform that Australian religious celebrants will not be forced to marry same-sex couples.
Australian Marriage Equality national convener, Alex Greenwich, said,
“Overwhelming support for marriage equality from the Danish Parliament shows the global momentum for reform continues to grow.”
“Australia risks being left behind if it doesn’t move soon to give same-sex couples full equality.”
Mr Greenwich dismissed claims by the Australian Christian Lobby that religious celebrants will be forced to marry same-sex couples.
“Danish same-sex couples have been given the right to a church wedding but Danish religious celebrants have also been given the right not to celebrate such weddings if it is against their religious values.”
“The safeguards in Australia are very strong with proposed legislation providing religious celebrants with an exemption and a recent motion from Andrew Wilkie confirming this exemption being passed by the House of Representatives.”
Denmark was the first country in the world to allow same-sex civil unions and joins a growing list of foreign countries that allow same-sex marriages including Spain, Portugal, Argentina, Canada, South Africa, the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, and several states in the US, Mexico and Brazil.
Marriage equality is imminent in the UK and France and also has the support of the US President, Barack Obama, and the New Zealand Prime Minister, John Key.
The Australian Parliament is expected to vote on marriage equality in the next three or four months but the reform is opposed by both Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott.
For more information contact Alex Greenwich on 0421 316 335.