LGBT rights in the Australian Capital Territory

LGBT rights in the Australian Capital Territory
Same-sex sexual intercourse legal status Always legal for women; legal for men since 1976
Gender identity/expression Change of sex marker on birth certificate allowed regardless of marital status or whether sex reassignment surgery was undertaken
Discrimination protections Yes (both federal and territory law)
Family rights
Recognition of
relationships		 Same-sex marriage since 2017;
Unregistered cohabitation recognised as "domestic relationship" since 1994;
Civil partnership since 2008;
Civil unions since 2012
Adoption Full LGBT adoption rights since 2004

The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) is one of Australia's leading jurisdictions with respect to the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. The ACT has made a number of reforms to territory law designed to prevent discrimination of LGBT people; it was the only state or territory jurisdiction in Australia to pass a law for same-sex marriage, which was later overturned by the High Court of Australia. The ACT's laws also apply to the smaller Jervis Bay Territory.

Same-sex marriage has been legal in the territory since December 2017, following the passage of the Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Act 2017 in the Australian Parliament. The 2017 Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey, designed to gauge public support for same-sex marriage in Australia, returned a 74% "Yes" response in the ACT, the highest state or territory "Yes" response in the country.

Laws regarding same-sex sexual activity

In May 1975, the now-defunct Australian Capital Territory Advisory Council passed an ordinance which decriminalised some aspects of male-to-male sexual activity and made the age of consent for homosexual sex to be 18, rather than the 16 years of age for heterosexual sex. This resulted in the Federal Government implementing the Law Reform (Sexual Behaviour) Ordinance 1976.[1][2][3] It was not until December 1985 that the age of consent was equalised, with the enactment of the Crimes (Amendment) Ordinance 1985.[4]

Historical conviction expungement

Since November 2015, people who have been previously convicted of consensual homosexual sexual conduct prior to its decriminalisation in 1976 can apply to have their convictions erased permanently from their records.[5][6] To that effect, the Spent Convictions (Historical Homosexual Convictions Extinguishment) Amendment Act 2015 passed the Legislative Assembly on 29 October 2015 and went into effect on 7 November 2015.[7]

Recognition of same-sex relationships

Domestic Relationships Act 1994

The Australian Capital Territory was the first jurisdiction in Australia to legally recognise the unions of same-sex couples, in the form of the Domestic Relationships Act 1994.[8] The Act defined a domestic partnership in much the same way common marriages are treated; a personal relationship between 2 adults (other than a married couple) in which one [or both] provides personal or financial commitment and support of a domestic nature for the material benefit of the other.[9] The Act also provided for distribution of property and finances in the event of a separation, and inheritance in the event of death.

Civil Partnerships Act 2008

In May 2008, after several attempts to amend the scheme, ACT Attorney-General Simon Corbell announced that the territory had abandoned its civil partnerships legislation, eliminated any ceremonial aspects, and settled for a system of relationship registers virtually identical to the ones operating in Tasmania and Victoria. The federal Government had not compromised at any point during negotiations.[10][11] The legislation passed the ACT Legislative Assembly on 8 May 2008, giving same-sex couples increased access to superannuation, taxation and social security law reforms. While legislative ceremonies were removed from the bill, an administrative ceremony may be performed by a representative the ACT Register-General. The Civil Partnerships Act 2008 entered into force on 19 May 2008.[12][13][14]

The Act was amended in 2009 to allow for same-sex couples to participate in an official partnership ceremony. This made the ACT the first territory/state in the country to legalise civil partnerships ceremonies for same-sex couples.[15] The amended legislation required that same-sex couples register their intention to hold a ceremony and opposite-sex couples be barred from entering into a civil partnership ceremony.[16] The Act was subsequently repealed as a result of the territory's implementation of the Civil Unions Act 2012.[17]

Civil Unions Act 2012

In August 2012, the ACT's Civil Unions Bill passed after legal advice demonstrated that the Federal Government had removed its ability to legislate for territorial and state same-sex marriage after it defined marriage as only between man and woman in the Marriage Amendment Act 2004. The Civil Unions Bill grants many of the same rights to same-sex couples as people married under the Marriage Act 1961.[18] The Act was not challenged by the Gillard federal Government. The Act was to be repealed upon commencement of the Marriage Equality (Same Sex) Act 2013, which (if not struck down by the High Court), would have legalised same-sex marriage in the territory.[19] Due to the High Court's ruling striking down the ACT's same-sex marriage law as invalid, the repeal of the Civil Unions Act 2012 is of no effect and civil unions can take place in the ACT.[20] The law requires couples to enter into a civil union ceremony (also known as a "declaration") in the presence of at least a civil union celebrant and a witness.[20]

Same-sex marriage

The ACT was the only state or territory jurisdiction in Australia to legalise same-sex marriage before it was made legal nationwide. This occurred in 2013 when the Legislative Assembly passed the Marriage Equality (Same Sex) Act 2013, with the Act going into effect and enabling same-sex couples to marry from 7 December 2013.[21] However, the full bench of the High Court of Australia heard the Commonwealth Government's challenge to the ACT marriage laws on 3 December.[22] On 12 December, the court ruled that the territory was not permitted to legalise same-sex marriage, as under the federal Constitution only the federal Parliament can legislate with regard to marriage.[23]

Same-sex marriage became legal again in the Australian Capital Territory in December 2017, when the federal Parliament passed the Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Act 2017 and thereby legalised same-sex marriage in the whole country.[24]

Adoption and parenting rights

The Adoption Act 1993,[25] as amended in 2004, states that "...an adoption order shall not be made otherwise than in favour of 2 people jointly (emphasis added), being a couple...married or not, (emphasis added), have lived together in a domestic partnership for a period of not less than 3 years", ensuring that same-sex couples can jointly adopt a child in the ACT.[26]

Under Part 15.4 of the Children and Young People Act 2008,[27] there is no prohibition to fostering children by a gay or lesbian person or couple. In November 2003, legislation known as the Parentage Act 2004 passed into law by the ACT Legislative Assembly ensured that the partners of lesbians who conceive children through IVF were recognised as legal parents.[28][29]

Assisted reproductive technology and in vitro fertilisation are legal for male and female same-sex couples in the ACT. In 2000, the ACT became the first state or territory to allow the genetic parents of a child born through surrogacy to become its legal parents without going through an adoption process.[30]

Discrimination protections

The Australian Capital Territory Discrimination Act 1991 covers grounds for unlawful discrimination with respect to sex, intersex status, HIV/AIDS status, sexuality and gender identity, among a host of other attributes.[31] The ACT Human Rights Commission administers this Act and the Human Rights Act 2004,[32] with a major aspect of its role being to handle complaints of discrimination, sexual harassment, vilification (on the grounds of race, sexuality, gender identity or HIV/AIDS status) or victimisation.[33] Areas covered with respect to anti-discrimination protections include but are not limited to: work, employment agencies, services or facilities, accommodation, clubs, professional or trade organisations.

On 8 June 2016, the ACT Government introduced the Discrimination Amendment Bill 2016, a bill which expanded the number of grounds upon which it is illegal to vilify or discriminate against someone in the ACT. Among a number of additions, the bill included "intersex status" and "altered sex" as protected traits.[34] The bill unanimously passed the ACT Legislative Assembly on 4 August 2016, becoming the Discrimination Amendment Act 2016. Most parts of the new law went into effect on 24 August 2016, the day after notification.[35][36] The remaining parts on the law come into effect on 3 April 2017.[37]

Transgender and intersex people are also permitted to change the sex listed on their birth certificate, under the provisions of the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Amendment Act 2014. The Act removed the requirement for such people to undergo sex reassignment surgery before being allowed to alter their sex on official documents. The laws allow someone to identify as male, female or "X", following a doctor or psychologist certification indicating they have received what the Act terms "appropriate clinical treatment".[38][39] Parents can also have their child's birth certificate changed if they believe it to be in the best interests of the child, though the child must have received "appropriate clinical treatment".[38]

Federal law also protects LGBTI people in the Australian Capital Territory in the form of the Sex Discrimination Amendment (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Intersex Status) Act 2013.[40]

Intersex rights

In June 2016, Organisation Intersex International Australia pointed to contradictory statements by the ACT and other Australian governments, suggesting that the dignity and rights of LGBT and intersex people are recognized while, at the same time, harmful practices on intersex children continue.[41]

In March 2017, representatives of Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome Support Group Australia and Organisation Intersex International Australia participated in an Australian and Aotearoa/New Zealand consensus "Darlington Statement" by intersex community organizations and others.[42] The statement calls for legal reform, including the criminalization of deferrable intersex medical interventions on children, and improved access to peer support. It also called for an end to legal classification of sex and stating that legal third classifications, like binary classifications, were based on structural violence and failed to respect diversity and a "right to self-determination".[42][43][44][45][46]

As of 1 August 2017, the Australian Capital Territory is one of three states and territories to include protections specific to intersex people in anti-discrimination law. The other three jurisdictions being Tasmania and South Australia.[47][48]

Conversion therapy

In May 2018, the ACT Government expressed it support for a conversion therapy ban on minors. No bill has been introduced to the ACT Legislative Assembly as of yet.[49]

ACT Health Minister Meegan Fitzharris said "The ACT government will ban gay conversion therapy. It is abhorrent and completely inconsistent with the inclusive values of Canberrans."[49]

Summary table

Same-sex sexual activity legal (Since 1976 for men; always legal for women)
Equal age of consent (Since 1985)
Anti-discrimination territory laws for sexual orientation (Since 1991)
Anti-discrimination territory laws for gender identity or expression (Since 1991)
Hate crime laws include sexual orientation
Hate crime laws include gender identity or expression
Same-sex marriage (Since 2017)
Recognition in territory law of same-sex couples as domestic partners (Since 1994)
Stepchild adoption by same-sex couples (Since 2004)
Joint adoption by same-sex couples (Since 2004)
Gay sex criminal records expunged (Since 2015)
Gay panic defence abolished (Since 2004)
Automatic IVF/artificial insemination parenthood for female partners (Since 2000)
Access to IVF for lesbians (Since 2003)
Conversion therapy on minors outlawed (Proposed)[49]
Right to change legal gender
Recognition of gender transition (without divorce and/or sex reassignment surgery) (Since 2014)
MSMs allowed to donate blood / (One year deferral; Australia-wide)

See also

References

  1. ↑ Homosexual law reform in Australian States and Territories
  2. ↑ Law Reform (Sexual Behaviour) Ordinance 1976 (repealed)
  3. ↑ AN ORDINANCE To Reform the Law of the Territory relating to Sexual Behaviour
  4. ↑ Crimes (Amendment) Act (No 5) 1985 (repealed)
  5. ↑ "Explanatory Statement: Spent Convictions (Historical Homosexual Convictions Extinguishment) Amendment Bill 2015" (PDF). Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly.
  6. ↑ Clare Sibthorpe (29 October 2015). "Homosexual acts can soon be scrapped from criminal records in the ACT". Canberra Times. Fairfax Media.
  7. ↑ "Details of the Spent Convictions (Historical Homosexual Convictions Extinguishment) Amendment Bill 2015". ACT Legislation Register.
  8. ↑ Domestic Relationships Act 1994
  9. ↑ Act Explanatory Memorandum
  10. ↑ Maley, Paul; Ryan, Siobhain (2008-05-05). "ACT made to axe gay unions". The Australian. Retrieved 2008-05-05.
  11. ↑ Smiles, Sarah (2008-05-05). "Federal veto forces ACT backdown on gay unions". Melbourne: The Age. Retrieved 2008-05-05.
  12. ↑ "Watered down same-sex laws pass in ACT". Sydney Morning Herald. 9 May 2008. Archived from the original on 11 May 2008. Retrieved 9 May 2008.
  13. ↑ "Civil Partnerships Act 2008". ACT Government. Retrieved 2008-05-20.
  14. ↑ "ACT recognises same sex couples". Melbourne: The Age. 2008-05-20. Retrieved 2008-05-20.
  15. ↑ Green, Jessica (2009-11-11). "Australian territory legalises gay civil partnership ceremonies". Pink News. Retrieved 2009-11-18.
  16. ↑ "ACT win fight on gay wedding laws". AdelaideNow. 2009-11-26. Retrieved 2009-11-30.
  17. ↑ Civil Partnerships Amendment Act 2008 (repealed)
  18. ↑ "Assembly passes civil unions reforms".
  19. ↑ Civil Unions Act 2012
  20. 1 2 "Civil Unions". ACT Government: Justice and Community Safety Division. 25 February 2014. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  21. ↑ First same-sex marriages in Canberra (ABC News)
  22. ↑ December date set for Aussie high court gay marriage challenge
  23. ↑ Gay couples given five-day window to wed after High Court reserves decision
  24. ↑ "Same-sex marriage bill passes House of Representatives, paving way for first gay weddings". ABC News. 7 December 2017.
  25. ↑ Adoption Act 1993
  26. ↑ GayLawNet - ACT
  27. ↑ Children and Young People Act 2008
  28. ↑ Parenting milestone in the ACT
  29. ↑ Parentage Act 2004
  30. ↑ ACT approves surrogacy bill
  31. ↑ Guide to Australia's anti-discrimination laws: ACT
  32. ↑ Human Rights Act 2004
  33. ↑ ACT Human Rights Commission Archived 11 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine.
  34. ↑ Kirsten Lawson (3 August 2016). "Shane Rattenbury moves to outlaw vilification on grounds of religion". Canberra Times.
  35. ↑ Kirsten Lawson (4 August 2016). "ACT parliament passes religious vilification laws". Canberra Times.
  36. ↑ ACT Legislation Register: Discrimination Amendment Bill 2016
  37. ↑ ACT Legislation Register
  38. 1 2 "Transgender people will be able to alter birth certificates". Canberra Times. 17 March 2014.
  39. ↑ "Explanatory Memorandum for the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Amendment Bill 2013" (PDF). Legislation.act.gov.au. 31 December 2013.
  40. ↑ Australian Human Rights Commission
  41. ↑ "Submission: list of issues for Australia's Convention Against Torture review". Organisation Intersex International Australia. June 28, 2016.
  42. 1 2 Androgen Insensitivity Support Syndrome Support Group Australia; Intersex Trust Aotearoa New Zealand; Organisation Intersex International Australia; Black, Eve; Bond, Kylie; Briffa, Tony; Carpenter, Morgan; Cody, Candice; David, Alex; Driver, Betsy; Hannaford, Carolyn; Harlow, Eileen; Hart, Bonnie; Hart, Phoebe; Leckey, Delia; Lum, Steph; Mitchell, Mani Bruce; Nyhuis, Elise; O'Callaghan, Bronwyn; Perrin, Sandra; Smith, Cody; Williams, Trace; Yang, Imogen; Yovanovic, Georgie (March 2017), Darlington Statement, archived from the original on 2017-03-21, retrieved March 21, 2017
  43. ↑ Copland, Simon (March 20, 2017). "Intersex people have called for action. It's time to listen". Special Broadcasting Service. Retrieved 2017-03-21.
  44. ↑ Jones, Jess (March 10, 2017). "Intersex activists in Australia and New Zealand publish statement of priorities". Star Observer. Retrieved 2017-03-21.
  45. ↑ Power, Shannon (March 13, 2017). "Intersex advocates pull no punches in historic statement". Gay Star News. Retrieved 2017-03-21.
  46. ↑ Sainty, Lane (March 13, 2017). "These Groups Want Unnecessary Surgery On Intersex Infants To Be Made A Crime". BuzzFeed Australia. Retrieved 2017-03-21.
  47. ↑ "Australian state recognizes same-sex marriages, introduce intersex anti-discrimination measures". Gay Star News. 1 August 2017. Archived from the original on 2 August 2017.
  48. ↑ "South Australia introduces relationship recognition for same-sex couples and anti-discrimination protections for intersex people". Human Rights Law Centre. 1 August 2017. Archived from the original on 2 August 2017.
  49. 1 2 3 ACT HEALTH MINISTER COMMITS TO BANNING GAY CONVERSION THERAPY
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