Australian premier says she’s against gay marriage

Australia’s new prime minister has declared herself against same-sex marriage, following the stand taken by her predecessor, Kevin Rudd.

Her declaration comes only a few days after her female counterpart in Iceland joined her same-sex in official matrimony, following a change of law in the country. But Australia’s Julia Gillard, speaking yesterday to the Austereo radio network, said that, while she was prime minister, the country’s policy would remain the same, according to Pink News. “We believe the Marriage Act is appropriate in its current form, that is recognizing that marriage is between a man and a woman, but we have as a government taken steps to equalize treatment for gay couples,” she’s quoted as saying. However, according to some gay-rights groups 60 percent of Australian citizens support gay marriage. Appeal to faith The online news source quotes Rodney Croome of the Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group as saying: “Other political leaders have appealed to faith, procreation, tradition, or biological differences between the sexes to justify their personal opposition to same-sex marriages, but as a history-making female leader with no religion and no children none of these reasons are available to Julia Gillard. “She owes the 60 per cent of Australians who support marriage equality an explanation for why she has let them down.” Gillard, who says she has no religious belief, told ABC radio this week: “I am, of course, a great respecter of religious beliefs, but they are not my beliefs. “For people of faith, I think the greatest compliment I could pay them is to respect their genuinely held beliefs and not to engage in some pretence about mine.” Civil partnerships are available in the Capital Territory of Australia, and some states have domestic registers for recording same-sex unions. But same-sex marriage is illegal throughout.