ࡱ> -/.` bjbjss 7 >z z z z 28, $dh*! !! !  ! ƻĘz 7 08A@, Z @@ 4t  8!!!!222 d222 $& DATE: 31st May 2006 NAME: Leslie Adam 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 41 year old father of 2 children. The children are aware of my bisexuality and the status of my primary relationship with a man who has remained living in Melbourne for the last 11years whilst I have lived in Sydney to be with my children and to which i shall return when my children have graduated from high school. It is therefore relevant to note that my relationship with my Same Sex Partner has endured longer than the relationship I had with my 鱨վ's Mother which lasted 9 years. 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. I have experienced discrimination in the context of not being able to take carers leave when my partner had a mental health crisis, soon after I left Melbourne, but had to take what little holiday leave I had accumulated and unpaid leave until I returned to Sydney. I am also aware that my current Partner and I would not have the same status and rights to advocate for the children with their school or in a medical emergency if myself or their mother was not available, even if there was not such a geographical handicap. We, my Partner and I, are also well aware of the many other doors that remain closed to us, that would have remained open had I continued in the relationship that I had with my children's mother, or if I was to begin a relationship with a woman, such as inheritance, social security, superannuation and healthcare benefits, particularly in our older age. Let alone having our relationship recognised with equal vigour as our married siblings enjoy. Our personal stories are very important. Please consider telling them to explain the impact of the current federal laws on our lives and the lives of our family members. Yours sincerely Les Davidson 0Bhvh BCJOJQJ^JaJhvCJOJQJ^JaJ0BCyzM N @ A $ % ( ) 3467 7$8$H$gdv 7$8$H$gdv50P:pv/ =!"#$% @@@ NormalCJ_HaJmH sH tH DAD Default Paragraph FontRiR  Table Normal4 l4a (k(No ListHH . Balloon TextCJOJQJ^JaJ  z z 0BCyzMN@A$%()3467 !1!1!1!1!1!1!1!1!1!1!1!1!1!1!1!1!1!1!1!1!1!1!1!1!1!1!1!1!1!1!0BCyzMN@A$%()3467 00000000000000000000000000000000BCyzMN@A$ h0 h0 h0 h0 h0 h0 h0 h0 h0 h0h0h0h0h0h0h@h0h0h08      L   &&++ ,,11 8*urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttagsCity9*urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttagsplace oQR  /ABBNNRR  .y3 Bu%v@HQ `@UnknownGz Times New Roman5Symbol3& z Arial?5 z Courier New5& zaTahoma"qhӦ&Ӧ&";";!r4 2X)?v2Oh+'0d   , 8DLT\ Normal.dot4Microsoft Office Word@@oĘ@oĘ"՜.+,0 px  ;   Title !"#$%&'*Root Entry FȻĘ,1TableWordDocument7SummaryInformation(DocumentSummaryInformation8 CompObjq  FMicrosoft Office Word Document MSWordDocWord.Document.89qRoot Entry FХr=ɘ11TableWordDocument7SummaryInformation( 0DocumentSummaryInformation8pCompObjq  FMicrosoft Office Word Document MSWordDocWord.Document.89q՜.+,D՜.+,< px  ;   Title4 $,