Tony Abbott’s sister Christine Forster believes the Liberal Party should look at moving to a conscience vote on gay marriage this year.
AAP/Newzulu/Hugh Peterswald
As Labor steps up its internal debate on whether its MPs should be “bound” on a vote for marriage equality, Tony Abbott’s gay sister Christine Forster believes that would “certainly improve the numbers” to pass the reform.
The institute of marriage can only be made stronger by recognising all marriages.
Danielle
Little progress has been made on debates about marriage equality in Australia – even though a majority of the population is in favour of it. How might ethical frameworks help us better understand the issues?
Marriage is a big step forward for the UK’s gay, lesbian and bisexual people – but there’s plenty more to be done to improve their lives.
Gay couple Andrew Wale (on right) and Neil Allard hold hold each other as they are interviewed by the media after marrying in the first same-sex wedding at the Royal Pavilion in Brighton, southern England March 29, 2014.
Reuters/Luke MacGregor
The Presbyterian Church (USA) vote to allow gay marriage will have multiple consequences now and in decades to come.
Massachusetts couple Marcia Hams and her partner Susan Shepard had a cake to celebrate their historic first same-sex wedding in 2004, but some bakers feel unable to oblige on religious grounds.
EPA C.J. Gunther
When a baker refuses, on religious grounds, to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple, the right to freedom of religion comes into conflict with the right to freedom from discrimination.
The march towards equal marriage rights in Ireland is well ahead of Australia, yet the level of public support in each nation is remarkably similar.
William Murphy/Flickr
Support for equal marriage rights in Ireland and Australia is remarkably similar: 71% in Ireland and 72% in Australia. The key difference is that Australian politicians are choosing not to listen.
Liberal Democrat David Leyonhjelm will introduce gay marriage legislation into the Senate.
AAP/Lukas Coch
Liberal Democrats’ senator David Leyonhjelm has threatened to trade his vote on temporary protection visas or other legislation to force the Liberals to allow a conscience vote on gay marriage. In the…
Tomodachi Life: make friends, fall in love but stay straight.
BagoGames
Nintendo is facing a storm of criticism over its decision not to allow gamers to play as gay characters and form same-sex relationships in the life-simulation game Tomodachi Life. There has been disquiet…
Across newspapers and social networks the images of happy couples will bear a striking resemblance to those published nine years ago. In 2005, the first civil partnerships took place. This weekend the…
For British gay rights campaigners, 2014 is becoming a year to remember. England and Wales will join the small club of nations that allow same-sex couples to marry; meanwhile, the Sochi winter Olympics…
UKIP has helped to put religion higher up the political agenda than usual in recent weeks – but not for reasons that will have pleased the party leadership. The now former UKIP councillor David Silvester’s…
Glenda and Jennifer Lloyd show their marriage certificate in front of the High Court of Australia after its gay marriage ruling.
AAP/Daniel Munoz
The cause of same sex marriage has been set back with the High Court unanimously knocking out the ACT’s law – invalidating the unions of about 30 couples. But the advocates of marriage equality are pushing…
Uganda is among 76 countries in the world - and 41 Commonwealth states - that criminalise homosexuality. Should Australia get involved?
EPA/Dai Kurokawa.
In Australia, there is an ongoing debate around the right for same-sex couples to marry. The majority of laws discriminating against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people were repealed in…
Marriage equality is one step closer in the US.
vpickering
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court of the United States struck down a key provision of the Defense of Marriage Act. The ruling allows the federal government to recognise same-sex marriage, granting gay couples…
For opponents of same-sex unions, gay marriage and gay parenting are one and the same issue.
EPA/Etienne Laurent
The French love a good street protest, to the point where it could be thought of as a national sport. And there has been no shortage of people on French streets making their views felt recently. But there…
Recent polling suggests a majority of Australians support same-sex marriage, but should the issue be taken to the people in a referendum?
AAP/Dean Lewins
Despite several Galaxy polls indicating that a majority of Australians support same-sex marriage - and it receiving the support of former prime minister Kevin Rudd - recent proposals for a referendum on…
Legalise love: New Zealand approved same-sex legislation in a midst of celebrations.
NZN David Williams
The issue of same-sex marriage in Australia is again part of the national debate, after Independent MP Tony Windsor announced he was in support of a referendum on the question to be held in parallel with…
Tony Abbott has softened his stance on gay marriage.
AAP/Paul Miller
Tony Abbott has made an important shift in the Liberal position on gay marriage. In another step on the road to a likely eventual change in the Australian law, Abbott now says the policy on the issue will…
A recent social media campaign for gay marriage has been criticised as ‘slacktivism’ and spawned a number of spin-offs.
Amanda B/Know Your Meme
Debate over the value of online activism has risen again in the wake of the highly visible Human Rights Campaign marriage equality campaign, which urged Facebook users to replace their profile photographs…