Australia: Gay reforms 'will help'

Link: Sunshine Coast Daily

Kristen Turley and Holly Kercheval with their little boy Indi are pleased the government is proposing changes to legislation regarding same sex couples.
Photo: Michaela O'Neill

 

Indi, soon to turn six, could not ask for better parents than his two Eumundi mums, Kristen Turley and Holly Kercheval.

And the couple hopes that more people will come to realise that, as the federal government propose law changes to effectively recognise same-sex relationships.

Holly has been in Indi’s life since he was 25 weeks old, and despite many obstacles the trio has become a tight family unit, one they are considering adding to sometime in the future – which is why they are excited about the proposed legislation changes.

“It’s very much welcomed and it’s been a long time coming,” Kristen said. “I think it could really help with the discrimination we face in our everyday lives, even just down at the playground.

“They could really help to widen the community’s perspective on families and what constitutes a family.

“This issue also faces the youth of today and this will hopefully promote more positive changes for the future. So I think it could help teenagers feel more comfortable and accepting of one another.’’

While Kirsten feels the government’s recognition is a step in the right direction, she cannot understand why it has stopped at legalising same-sex unions.

“We just want equality on all levels,” she said. “I just can’t see how they acknowledge all of this and not marriage.’’

[jw]