Australian Capital Territory looks to pass marriage equality bill

On Friday, Australia's equivalent of Washington, DC, the Australian Capital Territory, announced plans to legalize same-sex marriage by the end of the year.  The bill is set to be introduced to the Legislative Assembly this Thursday.

This would make ACT the first Australian jurisdiction to legalize marriage equality for same-sex couples.

The Labor administration of the territory will put forward a bill that will enable gay marriage, following a decade-long attempt to legislate in the area. Seven years ago, the John Howard-led government used its federal powers to overturn an ACT move to allow same-sex civil unions. The ACT has since reinstated civil unions. The legislation is set to be an early test for the prime minister elect, Tony Abbott, who has consistently opposed same-sex marriage but has held out the prospect of a vote on the issue at some time in the future. [Chief minister Kathy] Gallagher told Guardian Australia that she didn’t expect the Coalition to intervene to prevent gay marriage in the ACT. “We’ve been pretty clear on this issue for some time now and there’s overwhelming community support for this,” she said.

There will be no residency requirement, meaning same-sex couples who do not live in the territory will be able to have a marriage ceremony in the ACT.

(via JMG)