With the news that Stephen Jones' Marriage Equality Bill is being debated in the Federal Parliament, my husband and I wish to explain how marriage inequality affects our family.
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We have been married for over 38 years, and have raised two daughters; one an accountant and the other a human rights lawyer. When they were children, we often talked with them about their futures, what careers they aspired to, and about the possibility of falling in love and getting married.
Subsequently, both daughters did fall in love, but only one has been able to marry her partner. Our straight daughter married her husband three years ago in a civil ceremony, presided over by a civil marriage celebrant.
Our gay daughter, who was her sister's bridesmaid, dearly wishes to marry the love of her life, but cannot marry in Australia because of the inequality enshrined in the Marriage Act. We sincerely hope that marriage equality will soon become a reality so that she will be afforded the same right as her sister; the right to celebrate her love and commitment in a civil marriage ceremony in front of family and friends.
We would like to sincerely thank Stephen Jones for his efforts to bring about equality for our daughter, and for all Australian same-sex couples.