Australian census to count gay couples
May 8th, 2009
Same-sex marriages will be counted for the first time in the next national Australian census.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has announced that the next census, due in August 2011, will allow people in same-sex relationships to define themselves as ‘husband’ or ‘wife’ of their partner – despite the fact that gay marriage is not legally recognised in Australia.
Peter Furness from Australian Marriage Equality (AME) welcomed the decision.
“As government agencies like the ABS begin to recognise the reality that some same-sex partners are married, the Rudd Government’s opposition to recognising same-sex marriage looks increasingly outdated”, said Furness.
“The Rudd Government may choose to bury its head in the sand and pretend same-sex marriages don’t exist, but clearly the ABS will not.”
AME has been lobbying for several years for same-sex marriages to be counted in the census, and the organisation is urging gay couples in Australia to state their status in 2011.
“An increasing number of Australian institutions, organisations and corporations, with the exception of the federal government, now recognise same-sex marriages,” added Furness.
“Step by step, we are chipping away at this final barrier to equality.”
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