Marriage the ‘last equaliser’
A Rockingham man has voiced his support for same-sex marriage, saying the legalisation was the last piece of the puzzle for gay people to feel completely equal in society.
Remy Watkins said he supported the Greens’ State-based legislative solution for same-sex couples who wished to marry, which was tabled in the Upper House on Thursday, November 29.
The 20-year-old has been in a relationship with his partner, Corey Dick, for a year and said he hoped to one day have the option to marry the man he loved.
“As a human being I have the right to marry the person I love if I should choose,” he said.
“The fact that we have no right to be in wedlock with someone we love kind of degrades us as a person in society.
“We all want it, because it is the missing piece to us being a member of society and to being socially accepted,” he said.
Growing up across WA and moving to Rockingham for work, Mr Watkins said he had become accustomed to having to blend in with society.
“A lot of people are for it but there are a lot against it as well, and sometimes they have no inhibitions in displaying their displeasure,” he said.
“It’s sad we have a world where people can’t be themselves.”
The Marriage Equality Bill includes the authorisation of celebrants and registration of same-sex marriages via an amendment to the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 1998.
Ms MacLaren said the bill would be reintroduced in the new parliament.
