Today the Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby outlined its main concerns over plans announced yesterday by the NSW Greens to introduce a state-based same-sex marriage bill.

At a same-sex marriage forum last night, held after the NSW Greens media launch yesterday afternoon, community members raised a number of concerns relating to this proposal.

In response to these concerns, David Scamell, co-convenor said, “State-based marriage laws may give the right to marry, but they will not give our relationships full equality in the eyes of the law. It will make our relationships separate and unequal. Separate in that straight couples will be able to be married under federal law, while our marriages may only be recognised under NSW law. Unequal in that we will still face discrimination in many areas on a day-to-day basis.”

As was admitted by one of the key proponents of this bill, there are deficiencies in state-based same-sex marriage legislation. This legislation will not end the discrimination faced by same-sex couples with regard to taxation, social security, superannuation, and immigration, to name but a few areas.

Julie McConnell, co-convenor, said, “Introducing same-sex marriage bills into the state parliament while we are trying to fight for the rights of same-sex parents and their children offers conservatives on all sides of politics yet another opportunity to side-swipe important gay and lesbian law reform.”

David Scamell added, “As well as parenting, the Greens have an important anti-discrimination bill before the Parliament. We call on the NSW Greens to prioritise the passage of the anti-discrimination bill, as this will deliver practical reform that will positively impact on the lives of lesbians and gay men.”

He continued, “The campaign for same-sex marriage will be long and hard, but the community must remain focussed and strategic in order to win this battle. The discrimination is at the Commonwealth level, and this is where the battle needs to be fought.”