ࡱ> 243` `bjbjss 7` * * * * 6  ,N N N N N N N N 9 ; ; ; ; ; ; $ hNd_  N N _ N N t    N N 9  9    N B *  9 0   p  $N > , $ N N N _ _ N N N  30-5-2006 Terence Davidson [Details removed] Submission to the Same Sex=Same Entitlements Inquiry. 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 43 year old single gay man with no children of my own as yet. I have been in a long-term committed relationship in the past for a period of time longer that most heterosexual marriages last. I believe that to achieve full legal equality all Federal legislation should have terms such as 'spouse', 'partner' 'dependent' , 'family' and 'couple' redefined to include same sex partners and, where relevant, their children. I believe that Commonwealth legal recognition of same sex relationships including families parented by same sex partners would have a positive impact on my relationships, family life, productivity at work and financial security, among other areas of my life. We shouldn't have to worry about things that heterosexuals take for granted. I have experienced discrimination in the context of not being able to get family/couples medical cover, family entry tickets to events as well as having the spectre of having to have my potential partner pay a high rate of tax on my superannuation upon my dying before him. The legal complications of inheritence should I live in another state are also of great concern to me. Many of my friends have been unable to take time off to care for their partner when they fall sick. I am fortunate that my employer, a large university, is socially progressive but should I change employers then my options narrow severely. Why can't we marry? Friends of mine have had committment ceremonies but the social recognition is not there. The government is sending a message to the people of Australia that it considers same-sex relationships to be inferior to heterosexual ones. This is blatent discrimination and hiding behind religious doctrine and perceived tradition in a multicultural society is nonsensical. The implication given to Australia is that it is okay to discriminate if you don't approve of something. Once we were a leader in social change but now our government actively resists social change while the number of nations recognising same-sex relationship grows ever larger. Yours sincerely Terence Davidson 0 _`h\hxCJOJQJ^JaJh`CJOJQJ^JaJh\CJOJQJ^JaJ /0fgst: ;   8 9 ;<=MN_` 7$8$H$gd\`50P:p\/ =!"#$% @@@ NormalCJ_HaJmH sH tH DA@D Default Paragraph FontRiR  Table Normal4 l4a (k(No ListH@H x Balloon TextCJOJQJ^JaJ`  /0fgst:;89; < = M N _ b 0000000000000000000000000000 /0t:= M N _ b h0 h0 h0 h0 h0 h0 ਧh0h0h0ਧh0h0h0L` ` ` }t}\}@}$>EE==b NNFFb 9*urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttagsplaceB*urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttagscountry-region zb b /::qq_ b b `\x@+O` P@UnknownGz Times New Roman5Symbol3& z Arial?5 z Courier New5& zaTahoma"h'F'Fff!r4d\ \ 2HX)?\2 30-5-2006 Emily Gray Emily GrayOh+'0|  8 D P\dlt 30-5-2006 Emily Gray Normal.dot Emily Gray2Microsoft Office Word@G@:k@:kf՜.+,0 hp  Human Rights Commission\   30-5-2006 Title  !"#$&'()*+,/Root Entry F1Data  1TableWordDocument7SummaryInformation(DocumentSummaryInformation8%CompObjq  FMicrosoft Office Word Document MSWordDocWord.Document.89qRoot Entry F <ɘ6Data  1TableWordDocument7  !"#$5SummaryInformation(DocumentSummaryInformation8|CompObjq  FMicrosoft Office Word Document MSWordDocWord.Document.89q՜.+,D՜.+,H hp  Human Rights Commission\   30-5-2006 Title4 $,