{Australia} Gay Couples Say 'change inevitable’ For Gay Marriage

  
 Gay couples prepare for dinner with Julia Gillard.PHOTO: Ms Gillard met with gay couples Elaine Crump, Sharon Dane, Louise Bucke, Sandy Miller with sons Dylan and Matthew, John Dini and Steve Russell.(AAP: Alan Porritt)  
Gay couples who dined with Prime Minister Julia Gillard in Canberra last night say she acknowledged moves to legalise same sex marriage are inevitable.
While Ms Gillard does not support bills before the Parliament to enshrine the union in law, caucus has been directed to take a conscience vote.
The activist group GetUp paid $31,000 at a charity auction to secure seats for three same sex couples to have dinner with Ms Gillard.
All said they wanted to explain the painful impacts of laws which prevent them from getting married.
The children of one of the couples also got to meet the Prime Minister before the dinner.
Sharon Dane, who married her partner Elaine Crump in Canada, says Ms Gillard was respectful of her views.
"People are going to say, 'Did you say the magic thing to change her mind?' and that's obviously not going to be the case," she said.
"She is still standing by her position but she made it clear that she thinks change is inevitable and there will be international pressure that will make change inevitable as well.”
Three private members bills to legalise gay marriage are under consideration by the Federal Parliament.

abc.net.au


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