Backdoor to homosexual Marriage closed: Australia
English: Penny Wong, Senator for South Australia, accepting Penrith City Council's "Sustaianable Penrith" bucket hat at her UNFCCC address in Bali 2007. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) ABC Reports: A bill recognising overseas same-sex marriages has been overwhelmingly voted down in the Senate, with Government and Opposition senators crossing the floor to vote. Last year the Senate voted down a bill aimed at recognising the marriages of gay and lesbian Australians who have been wed overseas, and the Coalition, which officially opposes gay marriage, labelled today's bill as a backdoor way of reigniting the debate. But Liberal-National Senator Sue Boyce disagreed and crossed the floor to support the bill. "Within the Liberal Party one always has the option of exercising a free vote, and if we are to vote on this legislation, I will be voting for this bill because I think it advances the cause of same-sex marriage in Australia ," the Queensland senator said.