Last year, the NSW Parliament finally said something significant for same sex couples.
The Parliament said it was ok for same sex couples to adopt children, bringing security and certainty to the many children who being raised and cared for by loving gay or lesbian parents.
I am proud to have initiated this change, which has taken 11 years. In 2000, no other MP was prepared to support or vote for my attempt to make this change.
While this change is a major advance, the NSW and Australian parliaments still need to say a lot more.
Our parliaments need to say it’s time for full equality for lesbians and gay men.
Our parliaments need to say violence against gay men and lesbians is unacceptable – particularly state sanctioned violence in countries where homosexual acts is illegal.
Our parliaments need to allow same sex couples to marry if they want to.
I’ve been saying these things for a long time. It’s time our parliaments caught up to the 21st Century.
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