Marriage equality advocates say it is a disgrace that the new ACT Chief Minister, Andrew Barr, can be a head of government but can’t marry his long-term partner.
Andrew Barr will today be sworn in as the new ACT Chief Minister after winning yesterday’s leadership ballot unopposed.
Australian Marriage Equality deputy director and ACT resident, Ivan Hinton-Teoh, said,
“It’s an historic moment for the Territory and the nation to have Andrew Barr as Australia’s first openly-gay head of government.”
“It sends the message to young gay Australians that they too can aspire to the highest offices in the land and not be limited by old stereotypes and prejudices.”
“But it’s a disgrace that someone who is soon to have the responsibilities of being Chief Minister still does not have the right to marry his partner.”
Tomorrow will be the first anniversary of the High Court decision which struck down the ACT’s ground breaking Marriage Equality Act, effectively terminating the 31 marriages of same-sex partners which were performed under that Act.
For more information contact Ivan Hinton-Teoh on 0419 124 826 or Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668.
Author: Ivan Hinton-Teoh
Publication: AME Media Release
Date: 11 December 2014