Gay couple mark first Civil Union in Queensland

Gay couple mark first Civil Union in Queensland
Image: Jamie Kerr and Stephen Thompson. Picture: Supplied

A GAY couple celebrating their 21-year relationship has become the first pair to make a civil union declaration under Queensland’s new laws.

Civil unions for same-sex couples were officially restored in Queensland on March 22, after a three-year absence following it being stripped back under the former Newman LNP government. The Relationships (Civil Partnerships) and Other Acts Amendment Bill 2015 passed easily through Queensland Parliament 64 votes to 22 on December 3.

Jamie Kerr and his partner Stephen Thompson were surprised at the reaction to their civil partnership ceremony last Saturday – which was the first performed under Queensland’s new laws.

“We’re surprised that our relationship has caused comments on the whole (with) positive feedback on both sides of the media,” Mr Kerr told the Star Observer.

“Of course the trolling happened but (it was) 99 per cent positive.”

Mr Kerr said they decided to do the civil union ceremony as a way to celebrate their 21 years together.

“Andy Warhol said that everyone has 15 minutes of fame – I guess this is ours,” he said.

“After the reception we went home and fed the dog.”

A spokesperson from the office of Attorney General Yvette D’Ath said registering in a civil union provides a same-sex couple with proof and recognition of their relationship under Queensland law.

“This partnership means public legal recognition of our relationship, we understand it is not full marriage equality but it is important to us.” Mr Kerr said.

Jamie Kerr and Stephen Thompson. Picture: Supplied
Jamie Kerr and Stephen Thompson. Picture: Supplied

Although civil unions in other Australian states are recognised, the Queensland legislation may need to be updated so it acknowledges civil partnerships from other states.

For example, overseas civil unions registered in New Zealand, the US or UK have no auto-recognition in Queensland. There is no ability for Queensland law to recognise another country’s documents, they require registration.

“Stephen and I decided we would do the civil partnership union thing here and when full marriage equality comes in, we will just upgrade it,Mr Kerr told the Brisbane Times.

The spokesperson from the office of Attorney General also said that on the first day of civil partnerships, March 22, no one applied.

“In relation to the Civil Partnership ceremony, Birth Death and Marriages has received three applications of which two are pending and has registered 92 civil partnership registrations,” the spokesperson said.

According to the Attorney General’s office, currently the basic procedure allows new Queensland couples two ways to register their civil union. This includes making a civil partnership declaration and then having the relationship registered by the state Registrar of Births Deaths and Marriages, or by applying to the registrar to register their relationship without making the declaration.

Before the declaration, the couple must give notice of their intention to enter into a civil partnership to a civil notary and the registrar, should the latter not be the civil notary.

Until Australia recognises civil unions at a federal level, a Queensland civil partnership is only legally valid in Queensland and the other Australian states recognising it.

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3 responses to “Gay couple mark first Civil Union in Queensland”

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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!