Australia’s largest civil celebrants’ association, the Australian Federation of Civil Celebrants (AFCC) has called for reform to the Marriage Act to provide all couples access to marriage.
At its Committee meeting in Hobart this week, the AFCC National Committee ratified a new policy in support of Marriage Equality.
In a statement issued today in Hobart, the President of the Australian Federation of Civil Celebrants, Mr Lance Tapsell said,
“AFCC member celebrants have for many years been conducting commitment ceremonies for couples unable to legally wed and are aware of their desire to be accorded equal rights under the law.”
“As the leading professional association for celebrants in Australia, the AFCC, therefore, is committed to Marriage Equality and keenly awaits changes in legislation which will see the end of discrimination for couples not currently legally afforded the right to be married.”
“Our preference is for reform at a national level, but if this doesn’t happen we support States like Tasmania taking the lead.”
According to the AFCC, Marriage Equality will
• Remove legally-entrenched discrimination against couples currently unable to marry;
• Allow all couples in a committed, loving relationship to be afforded the same opportunity to legally and formally declare their love and commitment to each other;
• Strengthen the institution of marriage by re-affirming its core values of love and commitment, rather than defining marriage by whom it excludes.
For more information contact Lance Tapsell on 0438 443 435.