Union repeal ‘would treat us like animals’

One of the first couples to register their civil union under new laws in Queensland said they’d be devastated if the new state government rolled back legislation.

Michael O’Brien and Anthony Gillespie (pictured) are awaiting a decision by state attorney general Jarrod Bleijie as to whether their relationship will still be categorised as a civil union, reduced to a domestic partnership, or simply not recognised at all.

“It would feel like being treated like an animal, being declassified by [the government] saying your relationship isn’t like everybody else’s,” O’Brien said.

“If they’re going to change it to a relationship register, I mean that just sounds like something for pets.

“It would signal that our relationships were not valid, not equal.”

O’Brien said he and Gillespie jumped at the chance to be one of the first to register their union with the Brisbane Office of Births, Deaths and Marriages on February 23.

“We were very excited. For both of us it was a big thing to be part of history and be able to look back in 30, 40 years and say we were there,” he said.

“The other part is simply being able to have our relationship recognised.”

The couple, who also featured in the Healthy Communities’ Rip ’N Roll safe-sex advertising campaign that raised the ire of religious groups last year, may yet again find their relationship caught up in politics through no fault of their own should their civil union be declassified — something not lost on O’Brien.

“You still hear people talking about [Rip ’N Roll]. We’ve popped up in media debates and political debates every month for the last 12 months. It borders on the ridiculous,” he said.

“I mean we’re glad we volunteered for the campaign and it raised a lot of awareness, but we had no idea of the controversy it would cause.”

O’Brien said he had a simple message for Premier Campbell Newman and his Government when any suggestions for repeal come to Cabinet.

“They really need to step back and stop looking at this as policy, and look at it as people,” he said.

“They have to realise they’re actually stepping into someone’s living room.”

O’Brien said he and his partner were yet to have a ceremony, despite persistent questions from the couple’s son about a date.

“We’ve been engaged for two years and our son asks quite regularly when the wedding’s happening,” he said.

“But we might wait and see if it becomes legal federally before we have a ceremony.”