Email

Group welcomes gay couple register, urges more changes

Posted December 1, 2008 20:00:00

A leading same sex advocacy group has welcomed the creation of a relationship register for same sex couples in Victoria, but says discrimination will not end until the Federal Government formally recognises gay marriage.

From today, Victorians in gay relationships can apply to have their unions included on a government register which is recognised by the courts.

The national convenor of Australian Marriage Equality, Peter Furness, says some positive changes have been made federally, but it is still not enough.

"The Federal Government has passed legislation which recognises de facto relationships, or de facto same sex relationships, but clearly they have some way to go," he said.

"As long as the Marriage Act remains exclusive for opposite sex couples, of course that discrimination will stand in the law."

Tags: community-and-society, gays-and-lesbians, government-and-politics, federal-government, states-and-territories, vic