However, it has been the longstanding position of the NSWGLRL that there should be no religious exemptions in the treatment of LGBTI persons where a service is provided by, or on behalf of, the Australian Government.
The proposed Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Bill 2017 appears to offer current marriage celebrants a legal protection to refuse to marry gay and lesbian couples based solely on a personal religious belief [see: Section 39 DD (2), and Section 47 A]. This new exemption would also apply to straight couples.
NSWGLRL does not support this new encroachment of personal religious beliefs into the provision of services supplied by Government-authorised celebrants who are not Ministers of Religion.
Despite this imperfection the Bill has every chance of succeeding in Parliament if there is a conscience vote – and there should be no excuse for further delay or rejection of this Bill by the current Parliament.
The recent Senate Committee inquiry into marriage equality rose above party politics and showed that political parties can work together to deliver the will of the Australian people.
The NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby (NSWGLRL) is the leading organisation for lesbian and gay rights in NSW. Established in 1988, our mission is to achieve substantive legislative and social equality for lesbians, gay men and their families.
NSWGLRL welcomes the release of the Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Bill 2017
The NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby (NSWGLRL) welcomes this Bill and its attempt to find a compromise proposal the current Parliament can support. This reform to the Marriage Act is long overdue and much too important to be delayed any longer.
The NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby will create a giant sea of hearts outside Parliament House on Tuesday 8 August 2017, with each heart containing a message of support of same-sex marriage collected over a decade of campaigning.
Germany’s parliament has shown Australians how to break the deadlock of our current same sex marriage debate – by holding a swift parliamentary conscience vote.
The New South Wales Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby today thanked Chris Pycroft for six years of volunteer service including 18 months as Male Co-Convenor.
Earlier this week, the NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby, as well as one of its Committee of Management members, Shannon Molloy, was on the receiving end of behaviour that was completely unacceptable.
It’s been a long time coming but finally we’ve done something about the look and feel of the NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights Group website. What do you think?
There’s mood for change, political consensus on both sides of the aisle, dozens of community groups are in agreement about the framework of legislation.
The announcement of a cross-party inquiry into marriage equality feels a bit like history repeating, but any progress towards change is welcomed by the New South Wales Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby.
Australians have avoided an expensive, divisive, damaging and unnecessary marriage equality plebiscite after today’s defeat of legislation in the Senate, and the New South Wales Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby says it’s now time to get down to business.
Today’s decision by the federal Labor party room to not support legislation allowing a divisive, costly and unnecessary plebiscite on marriage equality is a win for common sense and community welfare, the New South Wales Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby says.