Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender And Intersex

Same-sex marriage or more formally known as gay marriage, is the marriage between two people of the same sex. In Australia it’s illegal, marriage in Australia is “the voluntary union, entered into for life, of one man and one women to the exclusion of all others” (Marriage Act 1961). In some states in the USA it is legal for example Colorado, California and New York. In Australia same-sex couples have no access to marriage, civil unions or other federal relationship registration. Same sex couples can be recognised as de facto couples. Same-sex couples are prevented from marrying by the amendments to the Marriage Act 1961, passed in 2004 by the Howard Government, Labor party. However same-sex couples who are married in countries where same-sex is legal cannot divorce within Australia due to the same-sex marriage ban. At the federal level, in 2008 and 2009, there was a wide-ranging suite of reforms to provide equal entitlements and responsibilities for same-sex couples, This includes social security, employment, taxation and superannuation. Tony Abbott has traditionally opposed same-sex marriage, and in 2012 parliament had debates on the same-sex marriage bills, in the election campaign, Abbott reaffirmed that he would not support legislation to allow gay marraige.

Lobby groups such as Marriage Equality Australia and the NSW Gay and Lesbian Lobby Group were instrumental in securing equal rights for homosexual de facto couples, and are currently campaigns for the legislation of same sex marriage. Despite a galaxy polls show that 63% of Australians were in favour of same-sex marriage (‘Majority of Australia supports same-sex marriage’, January 201, SMH), the law has refused to acknowledge it, enacts the Marriage Act Amendment (2004) to stipulate the definition of marriage as being between a ‘man and a women’. However, former PM Kevin Rudd has acknowledged the movement of same-sex marriage, promising to enact it if he were to be re-elected (PM promises legislation of same-sex marriage, August 2013, SMH). As such, it can be seen that although the law has been slower in recognising same-sex marriage, it is still able to reflect contemporary societal values and issues, thus achieves a just outcome for those in same-sex relationships, protecting the individual rights to

For Australian law to be effective it must be dynamic so it can reflect changing societal views, which law reform can help attain. A significant area of recent social change is the acceptance of same-sex relationships in Australian society. To mirror this, current law reforms have been somewhat effective in achieving just outcomes regarding the recognition of same-sex relationships in Commonwealth law. The combination of official recognition of same-sex relationships to an extent, attempts at removing discrimination in legislation, and the delay of justice denotes this. Considering the achievement of justice and the protection of individual’s rights, it is evident that law reform has significantly improved recognition of same-sex relationships, but there are more essential responses that need to be enacted.

This essay will be critically analyzing the social policy of same sex marriage using four Australian newspaper articles to demonstrate and examine how inequality through diversity and difference are present and experienced in the public domain. The essay will draw upon What ideological values and assumptions are present in both the newspaper articles and social policy?, What are the social justice concerns in relation to the current same sex policy?, concluding with a reflective component exploring where in relation to the social policy issue I am as a developing social worker.

Equity and respect for others are two of the main values that are instantly presented to the audience. Wong makes it clear that they are two beliefs of hers that are not displayed frequently enough in Parliament, as if same sex couples were in a world where they were treated with a sense of egalitarianism and respect, then gay marriage would be unquestionably legalized. Improvement is also a prominent theme displayed by the author, who utilizes quotes such as ‘marriage equality is both necessary and overdue’ (Wong, 2016) and ‘gay and lesbian Australians can vote, serve in the military, represent our country on the sporting field, teach in our universities, preside as judges, staff our hospitals, and be a member of the federal cabinet. Yet we cannot marry the person we love’. (Wong, 2016) These two quotations are clear demonstrations of the author’s conviction that Australia can be undoubtedly improved with the introduction of new laws that allow citizens of all sexualities to

Back in this time many Australians weren’t aware of the fight for same sex marriage and many strongly disagreed. However, now that America has passed the legislation in support of gay marriage, Australians now see this as a more achievable

It can be argued that marriage equality is the paramount issue for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) in Australia, and worldwide. The push for marriage equality has been at the forefront of debate for many years, especially in Australia, where same-sex couples are still unable to marry under Australian law. Despite the recognition of same-sex matrimony in

Among innumerable reasons why marriage equality should be legalized in Australia, a prominent one is that restricting the option to marry any citizen is discriminatory and unconstitutional. This sort of treatment not only deprives every-day people of their dignity, creating a second class of citizens, but also suggests that LGBTI+ people are somehow unworthy of participation in one of the fundamental institutions of our society. A lack of opportunity to formalize same-sex relations implies that these relationships aren 't of equal standard, exacerbating unjust prejudice and intolerance. This impression is promoted through the lack of financial, medical and social rights associated with marriage to individuals in a civil union, the supposed 'adequate equivalent ' for marriage. Although the legalisation of marriage equality would have no impact on non-LGBTI+ communities,

Another type of family in which the Australian legal system has been effective in is dealing with Same Sex Relationships. However there has been a slight degree of ineffectiveness in this issue with same sex relationships finding it extremely difficult in the past in order to obtain the same rights as married couples or even De Facto couples, thus one can interpret that in the case of Same Sex Relationship Justice is delayed thus the justice is denied. Same Sex Couples it seems are unable to ever achieve the rights and be recognised through marriage as the Marriage Act 1961 specifically states that marriage is between a man and a woman and in order for Same Sex couples to be able to marry a new law must be passed as well as that section of the marriage act be amended. However all states and territories in Australia recognise Same Sex

The law regulating same-sex marriages continues to change, in order to better reflect the community 's opinions and expectations. Within the last decade, Australia has seen substantial changes in the legal recognition of same-sex relationships. This increase in legal recognition is primarily aimed at removal of institutionalized discrimination, as well as providing adequate legal protection of same-sex couples has arisen due to the wide spread changes of opinions about same-sex relationships within society.

These sentiments continue until the medieval period, where Henry VIII formalises penalties and outlaws homosexual activity by passing the Buggery Act of 1533. The Act defined buggery as ‘an unnatural sexual act against the will of God and man’. This is a pivotal point, as it is no longer just a prohibition or social taboo, but these activities can be punishable with the death penalty.

Is the need for acceptance of one’s sexuality as important as other issues like poverty, unemployment, global warming, natural disasters and proper health solutions for Ebola, Lyme that put our survival itself at risk? When meditating on this question, let us also analyse our own sexual fabric. We set the standards of our own yardsticks to measure a sexual identity as valid/ invalid, normal/ abnormal, natural/ unnatural, acceptable/ unacceptable, moral/ immoral and finally good/ bad.

Prime Minister of Australia, Malcom Turnbull, had instated for a vote among those in parliamentary for the legalization of same sex marriage. The problem with this is that marriage isn’t a topic the should be voted on in a court by those who don’t understand the sensitivity of the issue. Couples are denied a natural God-given right by elders who have been conditioned to looked down on those whose views and ideals

Australia is a nation that is still not allowing the rights for same-sex couples to be able to marry each other. Since 2004 in Australia the gay community has been fighting for their rights to marry their partner. Over the years, there have been several attempts to rectify the situation and to legalise gay marriage. However, nothing has changed and most of the information regarding why gay marriage is still not legalised in Australia can be found in the Marriage Act 1961 (Cth).This Act states that “Marriage in Australia is the union of a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others”. This statement shows that if there is a marriage between the same sexes, it will be classed as void, as it would not be the union of a man and a woman. This

The issue of whether or not gay marriage should be accepted in Australia has been largely debated in politics and among the general public for a while now, and it seems as though it will remain a continuous issue for some time to come. The majority of Australians are currently split over whether the traditional view of marriage being solely between a man and a woman should be preserved, or whether this view of marriage is out-dated and should be redefined in order to allow gays the right to marry. The Australian Labor Party was also divided on this issue at a recently held federal conference. In the opinion piece “Welcome, gays, to… what?” (published in the Herald Sun in December 2011), Wendy Tuohy contends in a supportive tone, that gay