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The Marriage Equality (Same Sex) Act 2013 was an act of parliament of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly that legalised same-sex marriage in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). It was first presented to the ACT Legislative Assembly on 19 September 2013 by the ACT Attorney-General, Simon Corbell. The act was passed in the Legislative Assembly on 22 October 2013. It came into operation on 7 November 2013,〔 although it did not permit same-sex marriage ceremonies to occur until 7 December. The Act permitted the performance of same-sex marriage ceremonies from 7 December 2013, with Alan Wright and Joel Player becoming the first same sex couple to marry under the new laws at midnight. Upon commencement of the Act, the federal government challenged its legal and constitutional validity, lodging its challenge in the High Court of Australia. The case was heard on 3 December and, giving judgment on 12 December, the High Court unanimously struck the act down in its entirety, thereby voiding the ceremonies that had taken place.〔(ACT's Same-sex marriage struck down by High Court )〕 The court's judgement did however expressly offer confirmation of the federal parliament's power to legislate for same-sex marriage. ==History of the Act== The bill was presented to the Assembly as the Marriage Equality Bill 2013 and was supported by all eight members of the Australian Labor Party in the ACT and by Australian Greens MLA Shane Rattenbury. It was, however, opposed by all eight members of the Liberal Opposition, who argued that same-sex marriage should be dealt with by the Federal Parliament only. ACT Attorney-General Simon Corbell presented the bill to the Assembly on 19 September 2013, explaining: *Everyone has the right to enjoy his or her human rights without distinction or discrimination of any kind. *Everyone is equal before the law and is entitled to the equal protection of the law without discrimination. In particular, everyone has the right to equal and effective protection against discrimination on any ground. The ACT Government soon retitled the bill as the "Marriage Equality (Same Sex) Bill", with the aim of further distinguishing it from the definition of "marriage" in the Marriage Act. Further proposed amendments to the bill that would have created a separate institution of marriage for same-sex couples were rejected by the ACT Government.〔(No further amendments to ACT same-sex marriage law )〕 On 22 October 2013, the Australian Capital Territory passed the bill by a vote of 9-8 in the 17 member Assembly.〔(Same-sex marriage bill passes in ACT )〕 The passing of the bill was seen before 200 members of the public. The passing of the bill represents the first time any jurisdiction of Australia has passed any form of same-sex marriage. The act defines "marriage" for its own purposes as "the union of 2 people of the same sex to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life", other than a marriage "within the meaning of" the federal Marriage Act.〔Marriage Equality (Same Sex) Act 2013 (ACT), Dictionary.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Marriage Equality (Same Sex) Act 2013」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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