Comments on: Gay couple mark first Civil Union in Queensland

By: Wayne Daubney

Wayne Daubney — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 13:09:02 +0000

Your punctuation needs improvement. Exclamation marks on all but 2 sentences. Fail.

Now to address your pointless post.

The point of their civil union was a way for them to celebrate a 21 year relationship and garner legal protections as well. Jamie is retired, after a nursing career of over 40 years. Stephen is either retired or very close to it. Both are now seniors. Health issues can plague many of our older years. In the event of something happening to one of the guys, their relationship has legal recognition.

During the worst of the HIV pandemic Stephen, Jamie, myself and many others either experienced or heard of cases of homophobic family members dismissing relationships after 1 of a couple died; and the surviving partner losing everything. Family dismissing a partner as “just the flatmate” after couples had spent years building a home together.

I don’t think you’d like to see your partner denied visitation rights to you in hospital. Homophobic staff can and sometimes do restrict visitors to family only, especially when someone is critically ill.

I’ve known both of them for over 35 years. I introduced them to each other. If you can’t be happy for them, then at least don’t make snide remarks.

By: Scott

Scott — Tue, 19 Apr 2016 02:41:53 +0000

Queensland LGBTI rights in April 2016:

* Age of consent still unequal for anal sex (only Queensland has this law);
* Gay panic defence still allowed;
* No expungement scheme on criminal records on consenting adult gay sex; and
* No adoption equality for same sex couples.

By: Facts

Facts — Tue, 19 Apr 2016 02:35:05 +0000

Civil unions are so year 2010, can we as Australians move into the 21st century with full marriage equality! You step foot outside of QLD they will not be recognised anyway – so what is the point? Why create a new system called civil union, when in fact you got an existing system called civil marriage?! Civil unions are pointless and not worth the paper it is written on. Civil unions do not even recognise and protect children of same sex couples, because under QLD law adoption for same sex couples is still banned under the QLD Adoption Act 2009! Tell me again what is the point?! Civil unions are like skim milk, but I like full cream milk being civil marriage!