On Aug. 1, South Australia`s Governor Jay Weatherill announced that South Australia would officially recognize the legality of same-sex marriage, allowing same-sex couples to register for marriage in South Australia. Not only that, same-sex couples of non-Australian nationality can also be legally registered to marry in South Australia! Just a few words, immediately swept through everyone`s circle of friends, everyone is discussing Australia`s equality and tolerance!
In fact, South Australia has always been an inclusive and equal land, where adoption laws were reformed earlier this year to allow same-sex couples to adopt children; even Australia was the first place to decriminalize homosexuality.
However, behind the beautiful, is a road full of thorns. The road to equality in same-sex marriage has always been bumpy.
As early as the 1960s, the then South Australian governor, Don Dunstan, drafted a bill to reform gay sex laws, but he did not act under pressure from public opinion at the time.
From 2007 to 2013, the Australian Labour Party took a stand against same-sex marriage. Howard, then prime minister, even made a deliberate change to the marriage law to show that homosexuality had no equal rights to marry!
In the meantime, state governments have been working to give same-sex couples the same treatment as heterosexuality!
On October 22, 2013, the Parliament of the Capital District passed the Marriage Equality Act (The Marriage Equality Act), formally legalized same-sex marriage! This is Australia`s first region to recognize same-sex marriage.
As soon as the news came out, take Australia shocked, a total of 27 same-sex couples came to the capital Canberra to register for marriage, everyone`s face is overflowing with a happy smile!
However, the then Australian Prime Minister Albert (Tony Abbott) objected. The Federal Government protested to the High Court of Australia! on December 12, 2013, the High Court of Australia ruled that legalization of same-sex marriage could only be passed by Parliament and that local governments had no right to decide!
As a result, the Capital District Marriage Equality Act was overturned and 27 married same-sex couples were declared null and void, some for less than a week.
In fact, in 2013, proposals to legalize same-sex marriage were rejected in South Australia. Before that, Tasmania had submitted proposals to legalize same-sex marriage in 2012, but failed.
It may not resonate literally that same-sex marriage is illegal, but when misfortune does happen, we may be able to feel the helplessness of those in it.
I don`t know if everyone`s impressed? Last year, a British same-sex couple, Marco Bulmer-Rizzi and David Bulmer-Rizzi, went on their honeymoon in Adelaide, South Australia. Unfortunately, David accidentally fell down the stairs, injured his head and died after being rescued.
However, when the grieving Marco wanted to attend David`s funeral in Australia, he was told that because the law did not allow him, David`s death certificate would mark him as "never married"!
Moreover, because their relationship is not recognized, David funeral of all matters, Marco does not have the right to decide!
However, although the future is not clear, people from all walks of life in Australia have not stopped trying!
South Australia`s governor, Jay Weatherill, who declared same-sex marriage legal yesterday, called Marco, personally to express his sincere apology.
The governor told Marco he would do his best to amend existing laws and provide him with a new death certificate.
"I`m really happy, and I want to thank Mr. Weatherill. Last night, when I was in a panic, I really didn`t think it would happen. When I got a call from the governor himself and heard that he apologized to me, I was completely surprised. The apologies of the state`s top leaders are a great comfort to me, "Marco said.
And a full year later, South Australian Governor Jay Weatherill fulfilled his promise to legalize same-sex marriage and recognize the legality of registered marriages overseas!
Now, David`s death certificate shows proudly that he was lucky to find the other half of his life and join him in marriage.
Perhaps, there are still a lot of people who misunderstand the same-sex relationship as abnormal, immoral behavior. However, the times want to say, love is love, marriage is the union of two people in love, is independent of sex. The person I like happens to be the same gender as I am. Why is it wrong?
In fact, even in a relatively conservative country, more and more people have spoken for equal rights in same-sex marriage, including Zhou Xun, Lin Yichen, Dawn, Chen Bolin and other public figures. The love of the same sex is no longer a subject of deep taboo.
So far, more than 20 countries around the world have recognized the legality of same-sex marriage, and more than 70 regions have enacted legislation to protect the rights and interests of same-sex groups. Just this year, Taiwan has also passed relevant bills. To become the first region in Asia where same-sex marriage is legal.
There is a long way to go, but as long as there is love in the heart, there will be no fear of darkness.
Love will always win!
