>> Gay couple who have been together for 48 YEARS say their final wish is to legally marry in Australia during their lifetime.
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John Challis, 87 ans, et son compagnon Arthur Cheeseman, 83 ans, vivent à Sydney, et sont ensemble depuis 48 ans.
« Nous avons mené la vie très normale d’un couple de banlieue… Nous étions très compatibles et nous avons mûri ensemble, année après année », confie John. Aujourd’hui, c’est l’heure de la vieillesse, et des problèmes de santé. Arthur a du mal à voir et à entendre, et les deux hommes ressentent plus que jamais le besoin de s’unir officiellement avant que l’un des deux ne décède.
« Le mariage pour tous serait le couronnement de l’ensemble du processus d’égalité des droits », explique John. « Il faut que les homosexuels aient exactement le même statut et la même dignité dans la société que les personnes hétérosexuelles ».
Mais, l’aspiration des deux hommes se heurte bien malheureusement au refus du premier ministre australien, qui s’emploie depuis plusieurs semaines à mettre en échec un projet de loi visant à légaliser le mariage entre personnes du même sexe au Parlement.
« Je suis sûr que notre relation est tout aussi respectable que la sienne. Alors pourquoi devrions-nous être perçu de façon différente ? », interroge John.
Tony Abbott a en effet interdit jusqu’au vote de conscience, contraignant les députés et sénateurs au sein de son parti à refuser la mesure, qui émane pourtant à la fois de la majorité conservatrice et de l’opposition de gauche.
Sa position étant néanmoins de plus en plus contestée, par les sondages notamment, il a toutefois promis d’organiser un référendum après les prochaines élections, prévues dans deux ans.
Joëlle Berthout
@stop_homophobie
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>> A gay couple in their eighties say they want the right to marry each other before either of them passes away.
John Challis, 87 and his partner Arthur Cheeseman, 83 – who live in Sydney, Australia – have been in a relationship for nearly fifty years but now say they want the right to marry before either of them passes away.
“Arthur and I have lived together for 48 years. We’ve been a very normal suburban kind of couple,” Mr Challis said.
“We were just sort of very compatible and just grew together year after year after year, and here we are looking after each other in our old age.”
And with Mr Cheeseman’s health ailing – he now has trouble seeing and hearing – Mr Challis says time really is of the essence.
“He is getting frail,” he shared.
“What we feel is that recognising gay marriage would simply crown the whole process of gay rights and give gay people exactly the same status and dignity in society as heterosexual people,” he added.
Mr Challis believes that the change in legislation cannot come until Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott abandons his faith-based opposition to marriage equality for same-sex couples.
“I’m sure our relationship is just as devoted as his is and why [should] we be looked at in any different way?”
A bill to legalise same-sex marriage with cross-party support was introduced in the Australian parliament on Monday.
Warren Entsch introduced the bill, which is expected to fail due to Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s government being opposed.
“This bill is designed to promote an inclusive Australia, not a divided one,” said Entsch.
“A divided nation is what we will be if we continue to allow discrimination in relation to marriage on the basis of a person’s sexuality.”
Prime Minister Tony Abbott last week declared he will sack any ministers who defy him and vote in favour of same-sex marriage.
A number same-sex marriage bills are heading to the Australian Parliament this month but Abbott – a strong opponent of same-sex marriage – has banned his coalition MPs from voting in favour.
It was confirmed on Tuesday that Abbott’s ruling coalition voted by 66 to 33 in favour of banning coalition MPs from voting for equality – ordering them to follow party line and oppose same-sex marriage.
