Seeking recognition
Relationships are an important part of life. Apart from a personal relationship with someone, there are so many more.
We have relationships with family, friends and colleagues. One of the most important parts for all of them is to realise their standing -” socially and legally.
The current changes in Australian law for same-sex partnerships create a new legal obligation. Sure, they are supposed to remove discrimination but to what extent do they recognise the importance of the bond we have with our partners?
Under Victorian law same-sex partners are recognised as having met certain criteria such as co-habitation and emotional or financial interdependency.
Changes in the UK, which provides for civil partnerships, recognise an extended version of relationships -” that of the -˜in-laws’. The law specifically recognises our rights to refer to our partners’ families as -˜in-laws’. Nice work.
I have some concerns about how our relationships will be recognised at the Commonwealth level when we complete forms for Medicare or the Taxation Office. The changes remove discrimination in economic law but don’t really address the new -˜relationship’ that’s going to be created.
As someone in an established relationship, I refer to my extended family as in-laws. I really don’t care at times how the law recognises or describes my relationships, but the level of comfort available under UK law means that I can say that and be happy with it.
Our biological relationships are straightforward; our relationships with our friends are generally accepted as part of social networking; however our personal relationships aren’t given any official legal standing or description.
There are many couples who have taken advantage of various relationship registers and I think that’s a great step for them. But it’s not for me.
My partner and I could enter into a British civil union, but unless Government gives us the social standing where we live what’s the point?
Stephen Jones is a co-convenor of the Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby.
