ࡱ> 354` bjbjss . $$$$$$$8 , 8 D D D D D D D D  $ h\~ $ D D $$D D ; ; ; $D $D ; ; ; $$; D 8 6  ; 0 ;  X; ; $O 8D > ,; $ D D D 1 D D D  888<888<888$$$$$$ Dear HREOC, Thank you for the opportunity to make a public submission to the National Inquiry into Discrimination against People in Same Sex Relationships: Financial and Work-Related Entitlements and Benefits. I am a 36 year old gay male. I have been in a same sex relationship for 17 years. My 42 year old male partner and I have two children born in 2002 and 2005, through a surrogacy arrangement in the United States. Our children live with us full time in Melbourne. To achieve full legal equality, all Federal legislation must have terms such as `spouse', `partner' `dependent' , `family' and `couple' redefined to include same sex partners and, where relevant, their children. The Commonwealths legal recognition of same sex relationships (including families parented by same sex partners) would have a positive impact on my relationships, family, productivity at work and financial security, among other areas of my life. I have experienced discrimination throughout my life because of my same sex attraction. This has varied from bullying in the school ground in my later teens, being socially isolated from my peers, and importantly a general lack of self confidence that has inhibited me from taking part in life to its fullest, never quite feeling that I fit in or that I deserve to be included. This approach has impacted on the jobs that I have applied for in the past, and how public I have been about my true self. This in turn has limited my career options including opportunities for promotion and increased earnings. As a same sex headed family, there are many areas of government support that we do not have access to. These include the legal recognition of only the biological parent of our children, and therefore when circumstances dictate, the lack of opportunity for the non biological parent to access government financed programs and support. We do not have access to the Medicare safety net as a family. We can not income split, share tax obligations or participate in superannuation incentives applicable to a heterosexual headed family, especially where one spouse stays at home to look after the children (as has been the case with us). Please remove all areas of discrimination from Commonwealth law, not just those relating to finance and work. Doing so will create a more supportive and accepting society, where my children can grow up with confidence and pride, in a healthy family environment, and a supportive broader network. Sincerely, Lee Matthews 29 May 2006  %Dh/"h/CJOJQJ^JaJmH sH hmH sH hjLmH sH h/mH sH     ' ( gd/,1h. A!"#$% @@@ NormalCJ_HaJmH sH tH DA@D Default Paragraph FontRiR  Table Normal4 l4a (k(No List4U@4 / Hyperlink >*phHH  w Balloon TextCJOJQJ^JaJ  '(  000000000000000000000000 '(  h0h0h0j0j0h0h0h0h0h0h0h0h0h0j0h0h0h0j0j0h0j00    L_|  B*urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttagscountry-region8*urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttagsCity9*urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttagsplace E  DD  {~J5qEUALjL w/KB]@Э @@UnknownGz Times New Roman5Symbol3& z Arial5& zaTahoma"hxcxc!r4d 2HP(?/2 Dear HREOC,Samantha EdmondsKate FitzgeraldOh+'0ph  $ 0 <HPX` Dear HREOC,Samantha Edmonds Normal.dotKate Fitzgerald3Microsoft Office Word@G@@^̮ xcOh+'0h\$D  4 T < , L Dear HREOC, Normal.dot1Microsoft Office Wordxc   !"#$%'()*+,-0Root Entry FL9 2Data  1TableWordDocument.SummaryInformation(DocumentSummaryInformation8&CompObjq  FMicrosoft Office Word Document MSWordDocWord.Document.89qRoot Entry F`Ѯh7Data  1TableWordDocument. 6& SummaryInformation(DocumentSummaryInformation8lCompObjq  FMicrosoft Office Word Document MSWordDocWord.Document.89q՜.+,D՜.+,8 hpx     Dear HREOC, Title 4 $,