Forum for Cairns relationship register
A community forum on the proposal for a same-sex relationship register for Cairns Regional Council will take place on Wednesday night.
A deputation has been made to the council for lesbian and gay couples to have their relationships recognised on an official register.
The move was put forward by local community group, the LGBTI Alliance, as an interim measure for the council to extend the rights to same-sex couples as heterosexuals, and could see the region become one of the first in Australia to recognise lesbian and gay couples.
Queensland does not currently have a statewide register, which would provide equal legal entitlements for all couples. It is unclear what legal power the Cairns register would hold.
This open forum this week has been organised to allow members of the community to engage in an open discussion with the LGBTI Alliance, ask questions and express views in relation to establishing the register.
Lisa Golding, the council safe communities coordinator who has been allocated the task of consulting with the broader community and drafting the policy, will also be in attendance.
The forums will be held at Base Camp (HC/QAHC – next to Bob Jane T-Marts on the corner of Mulgrave Rd and Draper Street) on Wednesday, September 21 at 6pm.
