Declare your relationship

The left most image in this blog post is NOT the real advertisement but it caught my again so I decided to take a snap shot. Starting 1 July 2009, Centrelink will recognise same-sex relationships. This means that all Gays and Lesbian couples in Australia should declare their relationships to receive benefits from the government. Is this a start of same sex marriage in Australia?

It could be. Under new law under the Rudd Government, same-sex couples and their children will be treated equally in the areas of tax, superannuation, social security, health care and aged care. It is not clear to me though that property becomes conjugal after all it is not a gay marriage.

I believe it is a soft opening for gay marriage and the gay community should be thankful that it has progressed at this level. I am at this stage not comfortable with the gay marriage thing as it is an open invitation still for hurtful debates and ridicule.

I reckon this version of the law is a discreet gay marriage one.