A catalyst for change? - British couple's marriage not recognised SA after death

David (left) and Marco. David now deceased.

The tragic death of the gay partner of a British couple holidaying in Australia, has bought to the international stage the marriage equality crisis that exists in Australia today. The South Australian gov is now internationally embarrassed with the Greens saying they've been "asleep at the wheel" on marriage equality legislation. All the eastern states of Australia now recognise foreign same sex marriages.

Teflon Turnbull may take a bit longer to feel the heat but the pressure has already started there. It remains a glaring and absurd fact, that we still don't have full marriage equality legislation in Australia because of a few grumpy white conservative Catholic men in Canberra, who wouldn't know love it if came up and bit them on the ass.

Australian Marriage Equality has a petition going about it here. Please sign from wherever you are in the world. 

South Australian Premier Weatherill

It remains the fact that even if Australians go overseas to get married in a country where it's legal, if they come back and live in South Australia, Western Australia, or the Northern Territory, they will face the same laws as this British couple. There marriage will not be recognised. 

For what it's worth, the South Australian premier has done a "Oh shit, this is embarrassing, fuck!" and set about to modernise South Australia's laws pronto and issue the British couple with an updated death certificate.

Australian same sex couples still can't be married anywhere in Australia until the marriage laws are changed federally in Canberra.

Mr Weatherill confirmed the remarks and said Marco’s experience was an “example of how senseless discrimination of sexual orientation can cause pain and hurt.” 

He said the state Labor Government had introduced an initial Bill to Parliament last year to begin the removal of discrimination from state legislation. 

“We will introduce a further raft of legislation to the Parliament this year that will grapple with the more complex issues such as this,” he said yesterday. 

‘ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL’ 

South Australian Greens senator and marriage equality spokesman Robert Simms said it had taken far too long for South Australia to look at amending its laws with Tasmania recognising overseas same-sex unions since 2010. 

“It’s very disappointing, particularly when you consider South Australia led the way when it came to the decriminalisation of homosexuality but now the state Labor government is asleep at the wheel,” he told news.com.au 

Australian Marriage Equality national director, Rodney Croome, said more same-sex couples than ever before were marrying overseas. 

“I urge the Federal Government to follow South Australia’s lead and ensure there is no discrimination against same-sex couples married overseas, be they travellers like Marco and David or Australian residents.”

“It’s time the Federal Government stopped delaying and responded to the fact that thousands of its citizens are in legitimate but unrecognised marriages.” news.com.au