Same-Sex Marriage in Australia: Reasons, Effects and Impacts

This report discusses the reasons behind the same-sex marriage initiative in Australia, its effects and impacts on the society, and the history of same-sex marriage in Australia.

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Same- sex marriage1[Type text]
SAME-SEX MARRIAGE
Report
6/16/2018
Student Name:

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Executive Summary
The paper discusses about the same-sex marriage initiative in Australia. Among all
the social policy that had been introduced by Australia government same-sex marriage is the
most current topic in the society. Initially, In Australia same-sex marriage was not legalized.
Then due to increase in a number of gay couples and change in thinking of people the society
was facing problems regarding this social issue. There are a number of reasons ranging from
religious beliefs to secular arguments which Australians are not in favor. Then finally, the
Australian government had passed the act on 7th Dec 2017. The gay marriage had been made
legal in Australia, from 9th Dec 2017. This social policy created a lot of effects and impacts
on the Australian society. As the reality is that conceiving a child requires a male and a
female and if gay and lesbian couples want to have a child they have to rely on a third person.
The major change was in the meaning of marriage from the amalgamation of women and
man to amalgamation of two individuals. The laws recognized by this analysis is to ensure
that opposite-sex and same-sex couples enjoy the same financial and work associated rights
by the federal government.

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Table of Contents
1) Introduction.....................................................................................................................................3
2) History about Same- sex marriage in Australia...............................................................................3
3) Reasons behind the same-sex marriage change and its effects and impacts on Australian society..4
Reasons behind the change................................................................................................................4
The effects and impacts on Australian society...................................................................................5
4) Conclusion......................................................................................................................................6
5) References.......................................................................................................................................7

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Introduction
For several years same-sex marriage has been on the social agenda in Australia
therefore, same-sex marriage topic is selected from all the social issues in Australia. This is
the most current social policy which is been held in the society (Rao, 2018). Same-sex
marriage also termed as gay marriage. The marriage of a same-sex pair, who entered into a
religious or civil ceremony, is known as gay marriage. The wedding of the opposite-sex
couple and the wedding of a same-sex couple are considered as equal by the law in view of
political status. As same-sex marriage is the most recent social change in Australian society.
Day by day the percentage of gay couples (Chang, 2018) is increasing and to control the
social issues regarding this policy is the purpose. The reasons are religious beliefs, a social
impact like impact on next generation, the contradiction of the tradition of marriage and
procreation.
History about Same-sex marriage in Australia
The Marriage Act was introduced in 1961. The authorized description of marriage has
been altered from being an “amalgamation of a male and a female” to an “amalgamation of
two individuals”. The Federal Parliament had banned the same-sex marriage regulation on 22
occasions between September 2004 and May 2017. On August 2004 the Howard Government
revised the law to reject same-sex marriages. The Australian Capital Territory approved a
same-sex marriage rule in December 2013. Then the law was stuck on the grounds of High
Court that such a law could only be introduced by the nation. On 29th Nov 2017 the bill
passed the Council and then passed to House of Legislatures on 7th Dec 2017. On 8th Dec
2017, the bill received royal assent, and same-sex marriage lawfully entered into overseas
(A&E Television Networks, 2018).

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Reasons behind the same-sex marriage change and its effects and impacts on Australian
society
Reasons behind the change
Following are the reasons behind the change in same-sex marriage within Australian
society.
1) Human rights and freedom
a) Violation of human rights: - Everyone has the right and freedom to do what they
want. Decision made by others should not harm the society and are respected. Same-
sex marriage is the civil matter and the decision should belong to the couple in love
(Law Teacher, 2018).
b) Marriage is between two persons: - A marriage is a bond amongst two individuals.
Individuals are dedicated to each other to live the rest of the lifespan with them. There
is a significant benefit of marriage to the couple. Therefore there should be an equal
right.
c) Misunderstanding of homosexuality: - We cannot do anything if an individual is
born to be gay and they are rigid to change their sexual orientation. Therefore they
have no option to be a gay person, and it is not just that we treat them unlike others
(Law Teacher, 2018).
2) Lawful welfares
a) Tax relief: -A Wedded couple can create a family bond which will allow them to split
their business profits among family members. Moreover, they get social safety and
Medicare aids.
3) Health benefits of marriage

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a) Physical: - Firstly, the married couple is happier and in good health than singles.
There is the lower life expectancy of unmarried women and men. Therefore, being
bachelor shortens a man’s lifespan by ten years (Law Teacher, 2018).
b) Psychological: - Single people are more careless with their behavior and discipline
and less mature. They take drugs, gets into a fight, drink and drive. Whereas married
people are more responsible, happier, energetic and protective and face fewer health
problems like depression (Law Teacher, 2018).
4) Social benefits
a) Increase in child adoption: - Through legalization of same-sex marriage, the amount
of child adoption would rise; because a gay couple cannot reproduce naturally. The
love, care, and affection given by the parents is the only thing that is important in
childhood development (Herrada, 2016).
The effects and impacts on Australian society
On 9th December 2017, in Australia gay marriage was legalized. The Australian
Parliament passed the Marriage Amendment Act on 7th December 2017. On 16th December
2017, the first same-sex marriage was held under Australian law (Mohanthy, 2017). From all
the Australians respondents 61.6% supported same-sex marriage (Chang, 2018). According
to the law (Mohanthy, 2017), marriage in Australia is the amalgamation of male and female,
who willingly entered into for life. Now, this will be altered to the change in meaning to
“union of two individuals” (Mohanthy, 2017). The legalized words that twosomes say at their
wedding occasion may also change. If guests from other countries visit Australia for the
marriage of their gay and lesbian couples, those guests would be generating tourist spending,
adding to the economic effect. Also, gay couples might travel to Australia from other
countries that do not allow them to marry. Many other variations will be made to acts such as

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the Family Law Act, Sex Discernment Act, and Migration Act these are the major changes
which take place in Australian society.
Conclusion
From the above discussion, we can conclude that on 9th December 2017, in Australia
gay marriage was legalized. It was a big change in social policy in Australia. Many
controversies have been made on this change. The reasons are religious beliefs, a social
impact like impact on next generation, the contradiction of the tradition of marriage and
procreation. Marriages are an important day in the life of every couple, and their spending on
the occasion and other related functions importance. And it is the human right and freedom
of every individual to marry. Hence, the lawful explanation of marriage has been changed
from being a “combination between a male and a female” to “a combination of two
individuals”.

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References
A&E Television Networks. (2018). Gay Marriage. Retrieved from:
https://www.history.com/topics/gay-marriage
Barker, N. (2012). Not the marrying kind: A feminist critique of same-sex marriage. Palgrave
Macmillan: London.
Bernstein, M., & Taylor, V. (2013). The marrying kind?: Debating same-sex marriage within
the lesbian and gay movement. University of Minnesota Press: Minneapolis.
Chang. C. (2018). What do the same-sex marriage laws actually say?. Retrieved from
https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/gay-marriage/what-do-the-samesex-marriage-
laws-actually-say/news-story/3c7e8c418fb6c2b15d39b36c948aa76c
Gerstmann, E. (2017). Same-sex Marriage and the Constitution. Cambridge University
Press: England.
Herrada. G. (2016). Homosexuals Don’t Reproduce: False!. Retrieved from
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/Gilles-Herrada-PhD/homosexuals-do not-
reproduce_b_2808199.html
LawTeacher. (2018). What are the reasons for and against gay marriage? Retrieved from:
https://www.lawteacher.net/free-law-essays/family-law/what-are-the-reasons-for-and-
against-gay-marriage-law-essay.php
Mohanthy. S. (2017). Now the "union of two people": Australia witnesses its first same-sex
marriage. Retrieved from http://www.catchnews.com/international-news/now-the-
union-of-two-people-australia-witnesses-its-first-same-sex-marriage-92728.html

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Norton, R. (2016). The myth of the modern homosexual: Queer history and the search for
cultural unity. Bloomsbury Publishing: New York City.
Paternotte, D. (2016). The lesbian and gay movement and the state: Comparative insights
into a transformed relationship. Routledge: Abingdon-on-Thames.
Rao. S. (2018). New laws and changes that will affect Australia from January 1, 2018, and
beyond. Retrieved from https://www.news.com.au/finance/money/costs/new-laws-
and-changes-that-will-affect-australia-from-january-1-2018-and-beyond/news-story/
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Winter, B., Forest, M., & Sénac, R. (2018). Introduction. In Global Perspectives on Same-Sex
Marriage (1-18). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham: London.