Same Sex Marriage took a big step closer to becoming a reality for some Australians this afternoon when Tasmania’s lower house passed the state’s Marriage Equality Bill.
The legislation was passed with 13 votes in favour of the bill and 11 against. The voting on the bill came after several hours of debate.
The bill will need to be passed by the state’s upper house before it becomes law.
The historic legislation makes Tasmania the first Australian state to recognise marriage for the LGBT community.
The bill was co-sponsered by Labor Premier Laura Giddings and The Green’s Leader Nick McKim. Mr McKim said the bill was a cumulation of many years of hard work by dedicated campaigners.
In a statement released shortly after the historic vote Mr McKim said, ‘Right now I am unbelievably proud to be a Tasmanian, because we have shown the whole world what a truly loving, caring and generous society we are.’
Introducing the bill to parliament for it’s second reading the Premier Lara Giddlings said she supported the bill because she believed that all Tasmanians should be treated with respect and fairness and that disciminating on the basis of sexual orientation is wrong.
OIP Staff
UPDATED: 5:45pm: Lara Gidding’s comments added.
