Australian marriage equality advocates have welcomed the passage of marriage equality legislation through the Uruguayan Lower House, saying the move embarrasses Australia. Legislation is noe expected to pass their upper house and become law.
Australian Marriage Equality national convener, Rodney Croome, said,
“The majority of Australians who support marriage equality will feel angry and frustrated that their country has fallen further and further behind on this vital issue.”
“Frankly, it is embarrassing that a country like Australia, which prides itself on being fair and equitable, is falling behind the human rights standards being set in South America.”
Uruguay would be the second country in South America to allow same-sex marriages after Argentina. Same-sex marriages are also allowed in some Mexican and Brazilian states.
The conservative governments of the UK and New Zealand are set to allow same-sex marriages early in 2013, while the socialist government of France is also committed to marriage equality.
Only a third of Australian federal MPs voted for marriage equality legislation in August this year despite community support hovering between 60 to 65%.
Same-sex marriage legislation is on the table in NSW, Victoria, West Australia, South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT.
Same-sex marriages are legal in the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Canada, South Africa, Portugal, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Denmark, Argentina, ten US states and some Mexican and Brazilian states.
For more information contact Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668 or Alex Greenwich on 0421 316 335