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Australia Blocks Gays From Marrying Abroad
by Peter Hacker, 365Gay.com Sydney, Australia Bureau
Posted: January 15, 2006 - 12:01 am ET
Sydney, Australia) The Australian government of Prime Minister John Howard has moved to prevent same-sex couples from marrying in countries that recognize gay unions.
The government has instructed its embassies in Canada and in Europe to refuse to provide certificates to people they believe are gay stating that the individuals are single.
Some countries require proof from foreign nationals that people seeking to wed are not already married.
The government began sending out notices to its embassies last year, shortly after Howard's Liberal government passed legislation last year defining marriage as between a man and a woman.
The notices were signed by Attorney-General Philip Ruddock.
"This is a low act by Philip Ruddock and damages Australia's reputation among the international community", Peter Furness, National Convenor of Australian Marriage Equality said on Saturday.
It is not known how many couples have been prevented from marrying abroad, but one couple is speaking out.
Peter Kacukska, from Melbourne, who lives with his partner in Vienna, sought a Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage (CNI) certificate last year. The document is required by Dutch authorities confirming that he was not married.
The Austrian Embassy refused to provide the document citing the Attorney-General's notice. Kacukska, an actor, said the embassy staff knew he is gay.
The Netherlands ultimately accepted a copy of the notice plus a notarized affidavit from Kakucska as proof he was single.
The couple were married in November.
"There is no legal requirement preventing the issuance of a Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage", said Furness.
"Decent Australians will be appalled by this latest act of meanness and pettiness."
Furness said Marriage Equality is considering legal action against the government.
Although a copy of the directive was sent to the Australian High Commission in Canada, that country does not require CNI documents although marriage licenses ask marital status.
When asked last month if his government ever would consider same-sex marriage or civil partnerships Howard said: "never". The question arose following Elton John's civil partnership to David Furnish in England the same week.
©365Gay.com 2006
(\\__/) And if you don't believe The sun will rise
(='.'=) Stand alone and greet The coming night
(")_(") In the last remaining light. (C. Cornell)
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13796
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So "Liberal" means "Right Wing" in Australia?
Yet another nation where the men are men abd the sheep are scared, it seems.
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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saben
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On fire! |
Registered: May 2003
Messages: 1537
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The Liberal Party in Australia is multi-faceted consisting of 3 main factions- the Wet Liberals, the Dry Liberals and the Conservatives. The faction in control on the party and consequently, the government is largely a Dry Liberal faction. They are very concerned with economic liberalism and rationalism, free trade and improving the economy by relaxing laws that regulate business. On the social side of things they are quite conservative, by conservative I don't mean backwards, I just mean they treat every change very carefully and live by the motto "if it aint broke, don't fix it". Socially they are very moderate, in that there aren't very many changes that come about and a decision like this, for the Dry Liberals, is quite radical.
The Wet Liberals of the party are the true liberals, believing in both social and economic liberalism. The conservative faction (which is quite small, as most conversatives are part of the National Party) is just that.
Look at this tree. I cannot make it blossom when it suits me nor make it bear fruit before its time [...] No matter what you do, that seed will grow to be a peach tree. You may wish for an apple or an orange, but you will get a peach.
Master Oogway
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Australia Blocks Gays From Marrying Abroad 
