A report by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission (HREOC), launched on June 22, recommends that laws discriminating against gays be removed. The report comes at a time when record numbers of Australians are in favour of gay marriage.
The report, Same-Sex: Same Entitlements, calls for "simple amendments" to a range of laws to remove discrimination against gay men, bisexuals and lesbians. These amendments would include laws on de facto relationships, the recognition of same-sex partners and laws relating to duties owed to children. The 446-page report also calls for changes to remove discrimination in laws relating to employment, workers' compensation, health care, aged care and migration.
A telephone survey by Galaxy Research of 1100 people over June 16-17 showed that more than 70% support giving gay couples the same rights as straight couples. The survey found that 63% of Coalition voters were in favour of removing laws that discriminate against gays.
In addition, 43% of Coalition voters were in favour of same-sex marriage, with greater numbers recorded for Labor and Green voters. The strongest opposition to discrimination came from young people, with 25-34 year olds giving a 72% approval rating to the right to marry.
PM John Howard has committed to having a "look" at the HREOC report.
Rachel Evans, secretary of the Community Action Against Homophobia, the group that has spearheaded the campaign for same-sex marriage rights in NSW, told 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ Weekly that the report's findings underscored the "widespread passive support for equal rights for homosexuals", something that CAAH was committed to turning into active support for same-sex rights. She urged everyone who opposes discrimination against same sex couples to get involved in the national day of action for same-sex marriage rights on August 12.
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