By Mary Campbell. Illustration by Lillian Katsapis

Society and biology conspire to make the majority of us want to end up married.  And, apparently, people aren’t the only ones. There are a few insects, fish, mammals, quite a large number of birds and even a species of parasitic worm that live together, have sex monogamously, and cooperate with their partners in order to acquire basic resources. Though it doesn’t exactly sound like Mills and Boon, it turns out there are plenty of us that want a lifelong relationship (and maybe even some of that resource acquisition). A recent study (‘Not So Private Lives’) by the University of Queensland shows that 53% of same-sex couples would marry if they could. So why are we still denying some Australians their civil rights?
Jason Virgo is a second-year international-studies student who admits he never really used to think about “rights and all that” until he was inspired by the least likely of sources—his tax return.  While the form recognised heterosexual couples that had lived together for over 12 months, same-sex couples in the same position were not.

“That’s when it hit me,” Virgo says. “Oh God, they don’t even care. The Howard government didn’t even notice, didn’t even care.”

Jason’s now an active supporter of Equal Love, a nationwide campaign for same-sex marriage that has been running for five years.  The campaign seeks to put pressure on the government to legislate for marriage equality, an inclusive term that applies to same-sex, transsexual, and non gender-specific couples. And it can be said that inclusion is really what the whole campaign is about.
While there remains a ban on same-sex marriage ban in Australia, arguments for its removal are mounting.
Marriage equality guarantees financial and legal protection to both parties.  Virgo points out that if he were married to his partner, he would be assured legal rights in the event of a split or visiting rights if his partner were hospitalised.  Marriage equality would also provide more adequate legal support for children raised by same-sex couples.
Recently, reports were released that estimate the Australian economy is missing out on upwards of $700 million that could be generated by a same-sex marriage industry.
Despite the economic stimuli, the most crucial argument in favour of marriage equality is that it would, lead to better equality for those who fall outside of the “straight” category. As I’m talking to Virgo, it is clear that marriage isn’t just a ring and a piece of paper to him – it affords people a place in society where they, and the significance of their relationship, can be recognised.
“I think marriage sort of has this specific thing,” sas Virgo. “It gives people respect. If you say that you’re married, people know that you’re committed.”
According to a Galaxy poll survey commissioned by Australian Marriage Equality (a lobby group for for equal marriage rights), 60 per cent of Australians already support same sex marriage. Despite those numbers, Jason admits that there are still some obstacles the Equal Love campaign has to overcome. In particular, apathy.
“I think it’s unstoppable. Saying that, I think if people are apathetic about it, it will be delayed by many years. 60 percent of Australians support same-sex marriage, though just because they support it doesn’t mean they are out there fighting for it. I think gay Australians maybe need to be more of a swinger voter to get it happening. Or more Australians need to come on board. But at the moment it’s not really considered a vote changer.”
While politicians, including Anthony Albanese, have also described the movement for equality as “unstoppable”, Equal Love faces an uphill battle in an election year that promises to pit conservative against conservative.  While the current government has amended the Family Law Act to remove same-sex discrimination from areas such as tax, superannuation and employment entitlements, these amendments do not currently apply in South Australia, as the power has not been referred to the Commonwealth.
Even with these setbacks, Jason still seems to have a genuine air of both chipper hopefulness and bold determination that the campaign will inevitably be a success and equal rights will be granted to all Australians. “There’s no reason why queer couples shouldn’t be allowed to marry. There isn’t, really. All it is, is basically bigotry.”