Gay marriages to be counted in Census

Despite Australia’s ban on gay marriage, married same-sex couples will this year be counted in the Australian Census for the first time.

Marriage equality lobby group Australian Marriage Equality (AME) has urged same-sex couples who are married to indicate it when completing Census forms on August 9.

AME spokesman Peter Furness said it’s important same-sex married couples make their numbers known.

“It is an important sign of respect that the Australian Bureau of Statistics will allow same-sex partners to indicate if they are married on the Census,” he said.

“It also highlights how nonsensical the federal Government’s failure to recognise same-sex marriage has become.

“We urge all same-sex partners who want to indicate they are married to take advantage of the fact that now they can.”

The change to count same-sex couples who indicate they are married has come about due to a push from AME.

Furness, who married his same-sex partner in Canada in 2006, said after discovering their marriage wouldn’t be counted, the pair decided to lobby the bureau, which included a sit-in protest at the ABS offices.

“Five years later we are excited to be taking part in this year’s Census,” Furness said. “Our marriage will finally be counted.”

Victorian couple Jacqui Tomlins and her same-sex partner, Canadian Sarah Nichols tried to have their 2003 Canadian marriage recognised in Australia, taking their case to the Federal Court in 2004. The case is what prompted the Howard government to alter the Marriage Act to effectively ban same-sex marriages in Australia.

Tomlins said the Census change is welcome.

“It’s great to know this year’s census will recognise my Canadian marriage to Sarah for the first time,” Tomlins said.

“After eight years of being happily married it’s nice to see one government department, at least, stepping into line with prevailing community attitudes. The next step is full equality.”

Data on the number of same-sex marriages recorded in this year’s Census will be made public on July 12 next year.

INFO: Find AME’s Cenus guide at www.becounted.org.au