Marriage equality has been a top political issue in Australia since an amendment to the Marriage Act in 2004 which specifically addressed same-sex marriage. Currently, Australia is involved in a plebiscite to determine the views of the public on whether or not the law should be changed to allow same-sex couples to marry. The vote is being conducted by a postal survey being undertaken by the Australian Bureau of Statistics with responses due to be returned by 7th November 2017.
Same-sex couples accounted for approximately 1% of all Australian couples in the 2011 census. A General Social Survey conducted in 2015 by the ABS found that 3% of Australia’s adult population identify as gay, lesbian or other. A 2013 report states that people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans or intersex (LGBTI) have the highest suicide rate of any population group in Australia and are twice as likely to have high levels of psychological distress, making them vulnerable to mental health issues. This is often attributed to ongoing discrimination and exclusion which has been shown to have a negative impact on mental and physiological health outcomes.
Research has found that up to 80% of same-sex attracted young Australians had experienced public insult with some experiencing verbal and written abuse, and threats of physical violence.
AMA Position Statement
The Australia Medical Association (AMA), an organisation representing registered medical practitioners and medical students, has publicly declared support for same-sex marriage. A position statement released in May of this year by the AMA states that excluding same-sex couples from being able to marry has significant mental and physical health consequences. The AMA further states that consenting adult partners should have the right to have their relationship recognised under the Marriage Act 1961 regardless of gender.
However, not all doctors agree with the AMA’s Position Statement. A group of medical practitioners state that the Position Statement was released without consultation with, or the approval of AMA members and that the Position Statement contains misleading information. The group of opposing doctors have delivered a critique of the Position Statement which outlines the suppression of unfavourable evidence and which addresses clinical claims which are thought to be misleading. Furthermore, a petition has been raised for Australian medical practitioners who want the AMA to retract its position statement marriage equality. As of 31st August 2017, 650 doctors including 6 former AMA state presidents support the petition.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics expects to publish survey results on the 15th of November 2017.