blog




  • Essay / Same-sex relationships in Australia: range of reforms

    The development and reform of laws relating to same-sex relationships have been effective in reflecting social values ​​and expectations. Same-sex relationships are defined as relationships between two people of the same sex and can take a multitude of forms, such as: romantic and sexual to non-romantic intimate relationships. Tension over same-sex rights came to the fore in the 1980s as part of a broader debate over the legal recognition of same-sex relationships. Since then, there has been strong societal development around community standards, individual rights and human equality in this area of ​​law reform. However, religious centralists and far-right conservatives have forcefully opposed it. This debate resulted in the reform of the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth) and the Marriage Act 1961, both with the aim of balancing community standards and the rights of individuals, in order to ensure justice for society. The effectiveness of these reforms has been controversial due to the divergent perspectives that have emerged. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on 'Why violent video games should not be banned'?Get the original essayThe Sex Discrimination Amendment (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Intersex Status) Bill 2013 was effective to reflect social values. The main objective of the law was to guarantee equality and freedom for people in same-sex relationships, based on respect for fundamental human rights. However, this does not mean that the Discrimination Act has completely eradicated discrimination in its entirety in Australia. Rather, its effectiveness rests on its ability to codify and punish a set of social morals linked to discrimination in homosexual relationships. From 2013, the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth) was amended to become the Sex Discrimination Amendment (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Intersex Status) Act 2013. The reform of this law aimed to eliminate hostility towards the LGBTI community in daily life. , such as in the workplace, street harassment and access to quality health care. For many, this was seen as a monumental step for same-sex relationship rights. The chair of the Australian Human Rights Commission, Catherine Branson, said “people of all sexual orientations and gender identities deserve to be treated with respect and equality”. Branson then discussed statistics on the subject, identifying that 42% of people in same-sex relationships experience discrimination at social events, 34% have difficulty accessing services without discrimination, and 39% have suffered from certain form of discrimination in the labor market. Additionally, the NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby Group has been a key agent of change, with a focus on protection against discrimination in same-sex relationships, both at state and federal. Pressure group NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights said it aimed to "at a minimum remove all exceptions in every state-funded service delivery". This demonstrates how agencies such as this pressure group have used their voice to be a spokesperson for change and seek government advocacy and support. This social and political lobbying was effective to the extent that the 1984 law was amended torecognize and reflect the needs of broad sections of society. However, not all individuals agreed with the reform of the 1984 law, which delayed the amendment in the early stages of its implementation. . Like Nathan Despott who publicly argued that there should be talk therapy for people in same-sex relationships, stating that "there needs to be support for LGBT survivors and a public education campaign on how whose discrimination will strengthen people.” Statements such as Despotts' were reinforced by the Australian Christian lobby which said children do better with their biological parents. This further reinforced the discrimination of the LGBT community and highlighted the disparity between social views. However, there was significant disagreement within the community after statements released by the Australian group Christian Lobby were found to be based on "0 knowledge bases", which invalidated their statements. Their remarks included "same-sex couples currently face no discrimination" and "homosexuals do not suffer cultural discrimination." Many felt that these statements were extremely damaging and as a result there was even greater social pressure for mechanisms such as the government to change the “outdated legislation”. This ultimately led to the 1984 Amendment, demonstrating the development and overall effectiveness of discrimination laws in reflecting society's values ​​and beliefs. The legalization of same-sex marriage and the amendment to the Marriage Act of 1961 have been effective in meeting the needs of society, reflecting current values ​​and expectations. The need for same-sex marriage equality was brought to the forefront in 2013 when the ACT passed same-sex marriage legislation. However, this law was struck down by the High Court, when it was introduced by the Abbott government, as it was deemed "unconstitutional" and unconstitutional. After significant community outcry, this led to the Turnbull government's $100 million inquiry into the 2017 postal vote. The results revealed that 61% of the Australian population supported amending the Marriage Act 1961. The law came into force on 9 December 2017 and allows marriage between two people of marriageable age, regardless of regardless of their gender. The Marriage Amendment has attracted broad social support from many people in agreement with Parliament's decision to launch the investigation into postal voting. Key figures in support of the amendment included Bill Shorten, leader of the Labor opposition, who said "LGBTI Australians were now equal, with laws reflecting a modern, inclusive and fair Australia". As of December 9, 2018 (one year after legalization), Australia had recorded approximately 6,000 same-sex marriages, with New South Wales recording the most same-sex marriages, with 2,004. Statistics like this were welcomed by Australian marriage equality spokesperson Shirleene Robinson, who said "Australia has embraced change over the past year" and "ultimately it was about love and equality. When everyone has the opportunity to have wedding ceremonies, it's just wonderful. » However, many have opposed reforming these laws, saying the 61% vote-by-mail result does not reflect society's true values ​​and attitudes. the results seemed “too close” to be considered a “reflection.