|
Aussies ban gay marriages
13/08/2004 12:35 - (SA)
Sydney - Australia has banned same-sex marriage on Friday with Prime Minister John Howard's ruling conservative coalition joining with the opposition Labour Party to ram legislation through parliament.
The bill defines marriage as the union of a man and a woman thereby outlawing homosexual marriage.
Greens leader Bob Brown, one of two openly gay members of the upper house, led the minor parties' opposition to the bill. He questioned the status of same-sex marriages sealed abroad in jurisdictions where they were lawful.
"I've got friends in this position, now is their marriage valid or not?" he asked. "What's going to happen? Are people going to arrive and say, 'Where's your marriage certificate, give it to us, we're going to rip it up'?" - Dpa.
- SAPA
|