Same sex marriages !

There is a certain inevitability about same sex marriages becoming law in Australia.   The fact that New Zealand has just passed that recognition into law will certainly see a stream of same sex couples crossing the Tasman to legally tie the knot - but when they return to Australia the union will not be legally recognised.

Getting a piece of paper that can be called a " Marriage Certificate " is just a matter of principle to some people while the legal status it confers is the really important issue to others.   Any two people of either gender can live together as a married couple without question in this country - but that same piece of paper has a dramatic effect on what happens if and when one of them dies.

Inheritance laws ignore relationships that are outside the legal framework of " marriage " and this extends throughout the tax code.  A couple who take the traditional path get benefits that those who have a same sex relationship are denied.   In some countries, special legislation has removed this anomaly without venturing into an area where angels fear to tread - calling that union a " Marriage ".     It seems that making that step is a huge abyss for those with a conservative outlook on the meaning of that word.

It is interesting to look back and see the changes that have occurred in the area of personal relationships since Federation on January twenty-six, 1901.     At that time, any person convicted of homosexuality could expect to serve a long period in prison.   It was also illegal for people of colour and people with a white skin to cohabitate, much less " Marry ".

We have just got through apologising to the thousands of unwed mothers who had their child forcibly taken and given away for adoption as recently as thirty years ago - simply because in the eyes of society - having that child unwed - was a " sin " !

Dissolving a marriage was also fraught with shame.   One of the parties needed to be judged the " guilty " one responsible for the marriage breakup - and this involved third parties peeping through bedroom windows to obtain " evidence ".   The " guilty " were punished with unfair property settlement - and disgrace in the court of public opinion.    Eventually, a " no fault " regime swept away this era of corruption and accepted that some unions inevitably fail by natural causes.

Many couples today live together without the blessing of a marriage certificate.   We live in a " try before you buy " age and such arrangements are readily accepted.   It seems that the lingering longing for a way of life that has virtually vanished is stiffening the resistance to changing the last bulwark to life as it used to be.   We accept that same sex couples have a right to their relationships - just so long as they don't call it a " marriage ".
The majority of Australians seem ready to take that final step, but the politicians are nervous and fear a backlash from those with conservative views on morality.   France is on the cusp of acceptance and New Zealand has taken that step.  It is just a matter of time before the inevitable happens in this country !