Gay marriage vote passed in Tasmania

Gay marriage vote passed in Tasmania

The Tasmania House Assembly has passed a motion backing same sex marriage, marking the first time an Australian parliament has voted for marriage equality for gays and lesbians.
The Tasmania House Assembly has passed a motion backing same sex marriage, marking the first time an Australian parliament has voted for marriage equality for gays and lesbians.

The motion was greeted with applause by members from the Labour and Green parties, and with a standing ovation by gay marriage activists in the public gallery, reports The Tasmanian Mercury.

Premier Lara Giddings told the Mercury: "Tasmania has come a long way since 1997 when we rectified the terrible situation of having homosexual relationships considered illegal in this state.

"We've come a long way to show we are in fact a tolerant and compassionate community."

Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesman, Rodney Croome, said: “If every state and territory parliament were to do what we have seen in Tasmania today it would be impossible for the federal parliament to continue to resist change,

“Some people think it’s remarkable that the last state to decriminalise homosexuality is now the state leading on full equality for same-sex couples but it makes perfect sense to me because Tasmanians remember the damage done by discrimination and prejudice and want to see everyone treated equally.”

Federal Labour will debate the issue of gay marriage at its December conference. Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard is against gay marriage.