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Same-sex marriage officially signed into law in Australia
Same-sex marriage has been officially signed into law in Australia, a day after MPs overwhelmingly approved a historic bill. Australia's Governor-General Peter Cosgrove signed off on the law on Friday - a formality required to enact the legislation. The vote on Thursday set off rarely matched celebrations in parliament, including cheers, hugs and a song. Supporters celebrated across Australia, many donning rainbow colours.
"So it is all done. It is part of the law of the land," Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said after a brief ceremony on Friday.
He said the law would take effect immediately after midnight.The first marriage ceremonies will happen from 9 January, given couples must give a month's notice of their intention to wed.
MP Tim Wilson proposed to his gay partner from the floor of Parliament during the debate.
Meanwhile: Austria to allow same-sex marriage with couples able to legally marry from 2019 at latest
Austria's top court has ruled that same-sex couples can marry from 2019 at the latest, bringing the often conservative Alpine country into line with more than a dozen other European nations. Gay marriage is now recognised in more than 20 countries, of which 16 are in Europe. "The Constitutional Court nullified with a decision on December 4, 2017 the legal regulation that until now prevented such couples from marrying," a statement released on Tuesday said. It said however that the current rules would remain in place until December 31, 2018 unless Austria's parliament changes the law before then.
Previously: Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Same-Sex Marriage
Taiwanese Court Invalidates Ban on Same-Sex Marriage
Australians Approve of Same-Sex Marriage in Non-Binding Vote
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday December 09 2017, @06:46PM (1 child)
Legalization was strongly opposed by the immigrants of recent decades. Those immigrants are becoming a larger portion of the population and will eventually dominate. They will undo this. Gays will be lucky if that is the worst of it. Immigrants are coming from countries where there is a death penalty for homosexuality, and they are keeping their culture.
(Score: 2) by edIII on Saturday December 09 2017, @08:50PM
The tyranny of the majority? That's why you take some things and turn them into Constitutionally protected rights. In order to change it you need at least a super majority to do so. I would like to see > 85% to overturn some things.
50.1% being the bar to undo civil rights is a bit too low. Of course as I say this, I have a very limited understanding of Australia law.
Technically, lunchtime is at any moment. It's just a wave function.