The shifting politics of same-sex marriage in Australia

[DriftingCrow]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-22291239
Author: Nick Bryant Source: BBC News

"Few things tweak the patriotic nerve of Australians more strongly than being outstripped by their trans-Tasman neighbours, New Zealand. Traditionally, the rivalry plays out on the sports field. Yet this month has seen a kind of legislative equivalent of the Bledisloe Cup, the annual rugby union clash between the All Blacks and the Wallabies. Rather than out-muscle the Australians, the Kiwis have out-reformed them. They did so by becoming the first Asia-Pacific nation to legalise same-sex marriage."

Now, the race is on as the marriage equality debates takes a turn in Australia. It is estimated that 81% of young Australian support same-sex marriage, and more and more politicians are beginning to support same-sex marriage as well. The Conservative party is showing signs, like some in the American Republican party, of supporting equality, some say for practical reasons more than philosophical.

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Kuan Yin (and all my other Kiwi friends), go Team New Zealand!