News / International
Australian gay marriages declared invalid
12 Dec 2013 at 18:04hrs | Views
Australia's high court has overturned legislation allowing gay marriage in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).
The ACT parliament passed a bill in October making the territory the first part of Australia to legalise same-sex weddings.
But the national government challenged the decision, saying it was inconsistent with federal laws.
Some 27 couples who married since the law came into effect last weekend will now have their unions declared invalid.
The court said the issue should be decided by parliament - which in September 2012 voted down gay marriage legislation.
The act legislation had allowed gay couples to marry inside the act, which includes the Australian capital, Canberra - regardless of which state they live in.
Federal law, however, specified in 2004 that marriage was between a man and a woman.
In a statement, the Australian Christian Lobby, which opposes gay marriage, said: "marriage between a man and a woman is good for society and beneficial for governments to uphold in legislation."
"It is about providing a future for the next generation where they can be raised by their biological parents, wherever possible," the statement said," adding that "it is now time to move on".
Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who leads a liberal-national coalition, opposes same-sex marriage. Last year, a bill allowing same-sex marriage was voted down in both houses of Australia's national parliament.
In April, New Zealand became the first country in the Asia-Pacific region to legalise gay marriage.
Gay marriage is also legal in countries including Canada, France, Argentina, and South Africa, and some US states.
On Wednesday this week, India's top court upheld a law which criminalises gay sex.
The Supreme Court ruling reverses a 2009 Delhi high court order which had decriminalised homosexual acts.
The court said it was up to parliament to legislate on the issue.
According to section 377, a 153-year-old colonial law, a same-sex relationship is an "unnatural offence" and punishable by a 10-year jail term.
Some African leaders such as Zimbabwe's president Robert Mugabe and Uganda's president Yoweri Museveni have criticised western countries who want to impose immoral acts such as homosexuality on African countries.
Despite the united states turning the screws by with holding aid on countries that are perceived to be resisting accepting homosexuality, gay marriages is also illegal in most of the American states.
The ACT parliament passed a bill in October making the territory the first part of Australia to legalise same-sex weddings.
But the national government challenged the decision, saying it was inconsistent with federal laws.
Some 27 couples who married since the law came into effect last weekend will now have their unions declared invalid.
The court said the issue should be decided by parliament - which in September 2012 voted down gay marriage legislation.
The act legislation had allowed gay couples to marry inside the act, which includes the Australian capital, Canberra - regardless of which state they live in.
Federal law, however, specified in 2004 that marriage was between a man and a woman.
In a statement, the Australian Christian Lobby, which opposes gay marriage, said: "marriage between a man and a woman is good for society and beneficial for governments to uphold in legislation."
"It is about providing a future for the next generation where they can be raised by their biological parents, wherever possible," the statement said," adding that "it is now time to move on".
Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who leads a liberal-national coalition, opposes same-sex marriage. Last year, a bill allowing same-sex marriage was voted down in both houses of Australia's national parliament.
In April, New Zealand became the first country in the Asia-Pacific region to legalise gay marriage.
Gay marriage is also legal in countries including Canada, France, Argentina, and South Africa, and some US states.
On Wednesday this week, India's top court upheld a law which criminalises gay sex.
The Supreme Court ruling reverses a 2009 Delhi high court order which had decriminalised homosexual acts.
The court said it was up to parliament to legislate on the issue.
According to section 377, a 153-year-old colonial law, a same-sex relationship is an "unnatural offence" and punishable by a 10-year jail term.
Some African leaders such as Zimbabwe's president Robert Mugabe and Uganda's president Yoweri Museveni have criticised western countries who want to impose immoral acts such as homosexuality on African countries.
Despite the united states turning the screws by with holding aid on countries that are perceived to be resisting accepting homosexuality, gay marriages is also illegal in most of the American states.
Source - PinkNews
