Tasmania to Recognize Marriages

Raphael, Joy is right. Here in Britain a civil partnership is a specific union between people of the same sex that offers virtually all the same rights as a civil marriage but is still not formally considered a civil marriage. Opposite-sex couples can choose between a civil and a religious marriage and same-sex couples can choose between a civil partnership and, soon, a religious civil partnership, i.e. one officiated in a religious establishment. However, the two institutions are separate and something the current government has claimed it wants to address. In the meantime, both types of couples are precluded from each other's institution.

Wow. Of the Australian states, Tasmania wasn't one of the first I would have guessed to get same-sex marriage. If anything, I assumed it would've been one of the last. Good for them for proving me wrong!

@Joy - you say for Britain to upgrade its civil partnerships, excuse me to what, everyone in Britain from the Queen on down has a civil partnership, in Britain you obtain your license and register your partnership at the registry office. A ceremony if you want one can be had from a judge or if you wish to have a ceremony before family and friends in a church. The church ceremony is not the legal document and doesn't stand in for it, you still must register with the clerk. Charles and Horseface have a civil partnership as he can't be married in the church because of his divorce, they were joined in the same chamber as Elton John and his partner David Furnish. Even in Canada where we use the word marriage though the ceremony is not complete until the provincial registrar registers the documents with the Federal tax department. Your ceremony in Britain makes you every bit as married as if you had done it in Canada.

So add TAsmainia to Argentina, Portugal, Iceland, and Ireland in the last two months. Sure its only a small Au state. But also add Finland, working on changing partnerships to marriage. Denmark (most conservative of scandanavia) granting right to adoption to Gay people. Costa Rica, where the courts trashed an attempted gay marriage constitutional like amendment. And possibly Chile and several other Latin countries going to give cU or marriage, or move from CU to marriage. Something wonderful is happening in the world. The focus has to be to crush the homophobes in America, out all the hate filled secretly gay people if whty work against gay equality etc. Time moves at warp speed now. I well may live to see hte majority, if not the whole country recognizing the love and commitment of all families. gay and str8 something really is happening.

If you havn't noticed, the far right has grabbed the mantle of Defender of American Civil Rights. I am assuming they are referring to that oh so American right to hate and oppress those less powerful than themselves. Even the grossly uneducated are familiar with this right and certainly the founding fathers had it, so naturally it must be recovered and protected.

I actually think the US should get bashed a bit. We are always going on about how we are the "leaders of the free world...the defender of human rights...yada...yada." but when the rubber hits the road, we have people, even in the so-called "progressive" states like California voting in discrimination and going to court for their right to continue to do so. And don't even get me started on places like Georgia (where I unfortunately live). Yep, I'd say a good bashing is in order.

Tiny Tasmania now joins the ranks of progressive countries... How does it go; 'And a little child shall lead them'. Good on, Tasmania. We salute you!

oops, in my haste, I put Tanzania, not Tasmania. I do know the difference.

Good on Tanzania! Although I have to agree with the Paul's post about US bashing. I'm an American and I'm very critical of my country. However, Tanzania's law is very similar to New York's. The District of Columbia's marriage law is very similar to Mexico City's (ie, marriage is not legal in the whole of the country.) Yes, the US absolutely needs to get with the stick, particularly when it likes to shout how much it leads the world, but saying the laws in Tanzania and DC 'show' the US how it's done isn't accurate - it's just bias against the US, which, in this instance, is unfair. Now, if only America (and Australia) would follow Canada's example and if only the UK would upgrade its law to full marriage (I had my civil partnership there while living in Leeds.

I wish the US were futher along, but enough with the silly US bashing. Tasmania is one Australian state...and they are recognizing marriages and civil unions performed *elsewhere* (just like NY, for example). There are 5 states and the District of Columbia where marriage is legal in the US. Not great, but it is progress - and certainly more than 'never'.