Private lives under scrutiny
A new national survey of GLBT people’s views and experiences of relationship recognition has the potential to be a powerful new lobbying tool for advocates for marriage equality or civil unions.
Now that de facto recognition is almost fully implemented in all states, territories and federally, a team of researchers at the University of Queensland has begun asking whether further recognition would make a difference in how gay relationships are treated by families, friends and society.
This is the first survey conducted since the federal de facto recognition has come into play, and the first at a national level asking the GLBT community about their views, Not So Private Lives researcher Sharon Dane said.
We already have 800 participants, and the survey will run for at least another three months.
There have been several state-specific surveys of the community’s relationship recognition needs, such as the NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby’s 2007 report All Love Is Equal… Isn’t It. But there have been mixed opinions on whether the new de facto equality will satisfy the community’s needs or inspire a push for stronger recognition.
The results of the survey are expected in six months.
To take the survey visit www.notsoprivatelives.com
Jason – I’m simply stating my opinion. Actually, that’s what conservatives such as myself were saying about California; the ONLY state in the US where it’s been put to the people, where it was voted down – twice.
James – “Personally, I don’t think we’ll see gay marriage in Australia anytime in the next 20+ years if ever. It’s an issue like the republic that will raise it’s head every so often, and then go away”
– Well thats exactly what consertives like yourself were saying in the likes of Iowa or Canada just months before gay marriage became legal. James, same-sex marriage is a global issue, whereas in my opinion the republican issues is basically an Australian issue. Also Im sorry that you dont like the advancement of GLBT law reform – too bad.
“researchers at the University of Queensland has begun asking whether further recognition would make a difference in how gay relationships are treated by families, friends and society.”
Somehow I doubt it. If you’re uncool with your son (for example) being gay then I doubt some change of law is going to change your mind.
Pesonally, I don’t think we’ll see gay marriage in Australia anytime in the next 20+ years if ever. It’s an issue like the republic that will raise it’s head every so often, and then go away.
ho-hum, more long years of academic go-nowenere nonsense – back to duck-n-weave strategies to surivive!
I am one of the researchers involved with the “Not So Private Lives” national survey. I would like to address some of the issues raised by David’s comments regarding the purpose of this research. This survey is not simply a replication of past research on relationship recognition. Rather, it looks at a multitude of issues regarding same-sex attraction (including relationships) and how the various issues relate to each other. Areas of interest include the different ways people choose to disclose (or not disclose) their sexuality though their relationships or while currently single, people’s perceptions of mainstream acceptance, people’s perceptions of how others view same-sex relationships when compared with opposite-sex relationships, as well as their personal preferences for relationship recognition.
By the time we actually do anything like this in Australia, there will be no civil unions left anywhere in any other country. Existing civil union schemes are being challenged & dismantled at lightening speed & replaced with equal Civil Marriage.
The exhaustive NSW GLRL survey results overwhelmingly supported equal marriage as the No.1 first choice option. So, stop with more surveys & just aim for equality, in being able to walk into any government registry office & access equal civil marriage.