Australian leader proposes marriage equality bill

Liberal Democratic Party Senator David Leyonhjelm declared support for same-sex marriage during his inaugural speech Thursday. His recent election explains why past attempts for marriage equality had failed– conservative power had been in place the previous time the issue had been brought to vote.

In his speech Leyonhjelm said, “Liberty is eroded when we are unable to marry the person of our choice, whatever their gender. It is not legitimate for government to involve itself in things that an individual voluntarily does to him or herself, or that people choose to do to each other by mutual consent, when nobody else is harmed.”

Although his newly proposed marriage equality bill is unlikely to pass, it is laying groundwork for Australia’s government to pave its way to equality.