Finally, after months and months of organising a stupidly expensive non-compulsory and non-binding public vote about sex-sex marriage that ignited some horrible hate speech and proved what everyone knew already – that the public was for it – Australian parliament announced that same-sex couples would be allowed to legally marry. [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/AMEquality/status/938661842641043456]] After announcing the news on December 7, the general public broke out into new rainbow-flag-waving cheers of joy, Kylie Minogue celebrated via a great When Harry Met Sally gif, and politicians in the Australian Parliment (save a few miserable conservatives) began singing a delightful rendition of "We Are Australian". [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/i/web/status/938680674852020224]] [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/kylieminogue/status/938667522399731712]] Same-sex couples everywhere must be feeling a sense of huge relief, not to mention a bit of emotional exhaustion after the trauma the debates of the last few months have inflicted. People have been popping the question left right and centre, but this couple takes the cake. Neville Wills and his partner Ian Fenwicke have been together an astonishing 39 years, having met for the first time at a luncheon in 1978. And it's only now, at the ripe old age of 98, that Neville finally has the opportunity to marry the love of his life. "I think it's marvellous," he told the Sydney Morning Herald. "I'm glad I've lived this long to see it. We can be legitimate after today." Ian, 74, said back in 1978 marriage was something "you just wouldn't imagine". The two said they've lived without much discrimination and hate, but they're in much higher spirits now that they can finally bind their lifelong partnership with marriage. [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/smh/status/938898526205079554]] "It has been a long road and it's just astounding that it has finally been achieved," he said. "But it's disappointing that we've been so slow compared to most other advanced democratic countries." Neville worked as a university professor and Ian as a commercial accountant. The two even got a special mention in parliament by the Liberal Party's Trent Zimmerman, who spoke on the bill and told the chamber of the pair's relationship. "They have loved, honoured, comforted and protected each other and will do so as long as they both shall live," he told the chamber. "Their hopes and aspirations reflect the importance of marriage in our society for so many people yet denied to some simply because of their sexuality." But now, finally, they can tie the knot. Neville and Ian are planning a quiet wedding surrounded by 20 or so loved ones at a friend's apartment in Sydney. Neville, who describes himself as the "ancient part" of the pair, said he's looking forward to a "jolly nice cocktail hour" after the private ceremony. [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/SydOperaHouse/status/939001985877000193]] As of December 9, when marriage equality becomes law, all weddings will include an updated set script for marriage celebrants to read. The old script stated a rigid, "Marriage, according to law in Australia, is the union of a man and a woman" and has now become: "Marriage, according to law in Australia, is the union of two people to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life." Hoorah! So as of tomorrow, same-sex couples can apply for their marriage licenses and start walking the aisle in a month. Looks like Australia is set for a summer filled with long-awaited gay marriages, including the union of Neville and Ian. Congratulations, guys.

In Australia, everything's trying to kill you, from poisonous snakes to giant muscular kangaroos to creepy moth-caterpillar-worm hybrids. But you know what's crazier than the creatures? The fact that in The Land Down Under, gay marriage is still illegal in 2017. C'mon, mates! That's not very ripper. Crikey. But now we have some great news! All you bogans better bust out the vegemite, put on your finest thongs and play "It's Raining Men" on the didgeridoo. After a two month national survey, Australians have emphatically voted to legalize same-sex marriage, 61.6% to 31.4%. In Melbourne, Australia's cool artsy hipster city, celebrations were lit. Cheers, confetti, singing, dancing, rainbow-colored smoke, couples collapsing in tears, kangaroos tongue-kissing emus - Aussies haven't been this excited since Crocodile Dundee 2 was greenlit. [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/luciemorrismarr/status/930587994221711360?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2017%2F11%2F14%2Fasia%2Faustralia-same-sex-marriage-yes%2Findex.html]] While the vote itself doesn't legalize gay marriage, it makes the outcome very likely. The two-month voluntary postal survey got an incredible 80% voter turnout (what's the voter turnout in the U.S.? 8%? 0.08%?). That's a decisive vote for social change, after years of political stagnation. According to The Sydney Morning Herald, "it means Australia is poised to join 25 other countries that have granted marriage equality to gay couples, including the US, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom." They also reported the leader of the opposing party "conceded defeat" and "accepted the democratic decision of the people." In other words, if you're a gay Aussie who wants to get married in 2018 - "No worries, mate!" And if you're a gay Aussie who doesn't want to get married but your lover really wants to get married: "Be very worried, mate." Australia Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull called the response "overwhelming" and said they must be committed to legalizing same-sex marriage before Christmas: "They voted 'yes' for fairness, they voted 'yes' for commitment, they voted 'yes' for love. And now it is up to us here in the Parliament of Australia to get on with it - to get on with the job the Australian people have tasked us to do, and get this done this year, before Christmas. That must be our commitment." [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/TurnbullMalcolm/status/930575993294635008]] Gay Liberal senator Dean Smith declared this vote to be Australia's most important electoral mandate: "This is by any and every measure a huge democratic achievement for our country. I have never been more proud to stand up and represent Australian people than I was this morning when I listened to that result." Opposition Labor Party leader Bill Shorten also made a strong statement of support: "I feel for young people who had their relationships questioned in a way I wouldn't have thought we would see ever again, but nevertheless what this marriage equality survey shows is that unconditional love always has the last word...Australians have voted for a generous view of themselves, for a modern Australia, where diversity is accepted, supported and respected. Today we celebrate, tomorrow we legislate." [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/AMEquality/status/930572075613356033]] It's not a perfect world - just last week, an American father allegedly killed his 14-year-old son for being gay. But the world does seem to be getting better. So, good on ya, 'Straya! Now you can "root" for whoever you want! The next Foster's on me. (Ask any Australian - Foster's is their favorite beer. It's all they drink.)

In a world that is continuing to campaign and slowly progress for gender and LGBT+ equality, Australia has taken the latest step in providing trans people with compassion and impartiality, as the state of Victoria is seemingly on the verge of changing the law so that transgender people can change their birth certificate without undergoing sex-change surgery.

Jill Hennessy, Victoria's Attorney-General, introduced the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Amendment Bill back in June, in a conscious attempt to ensure that the state's laws are "compatible with human rights", the Daily Mail has reported.

The proposed bill will be debated in the Victorian Parliament later this week - four months after Tasmania's upper house voted to make gender optional on birth certificates and allow someone to change their gender by signing a statutory declaration.

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It is expected that the Labor government bill will pass through the Legislative Council thanks to support from the Green Party and other left-leaning smaller parties, although the Opposition is set to vote against the legislation.

Melbourne 3AW broadcaster Neil Mitchell came under fire after suggesting that the change would be "symbolic". Animal Justice Party upper house MP Andy Meddick quickly shot down Mitchell's comments, saying: "No, it's not symbolic. For people who are transgender, this means everything in the world to them."

[[imagecaption|| Credit: Getty]]

Mr Meddick's 20-year-old son, Eden, is transgender, and the MP spoke candidly about how Eden revealed his gender dysphoria at age 14. Meddick stressed to the broadcaster how a person's birth certificate is more than just a piece of paper:

"For them, when they go to get a driver's license, the driver's license doesn't reflect who they are. When they go to get a passport, it doesn't reflect who they are.

"They feel isolated, they feel separated from the rest of the world.

'This is another way, it makes us more inclusive as a society that we recognize that these people are who they are and they're part of us and we love them and we support them."

If the bill is passed in Victoria, that would mean that New South Wales and Queensland would be the only Australian states that still require someone to undergo sex-change surgery in order to change their birth certificate.

Taiwan's parliament has finally become the first in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage, following a historic vote on Friday.

Back in 2017, the island's constitutional court had ruled that same-sex couples had the right to legally marry - and the government had two years to pass the changes (with the deadline on 24 May).

Three bills were discussed by lawmakers, and the government's - which was the most progressive - was passed by 66 to 27 votes.

[[imagecaption|| Credit: Getty Images]]

The bill refers to partnerships as "marriages" while others sought to classify them as "same-sex family relationships" or "same-sex unions". On top of that, the government's bill was the only one to offer limited adoption rights.

"The [government]'s bill is already our bottom line, we won't accept any more compromise," Jennifer Lu, the chief coordinator of rights group Marriage Equality Coalition Taiwan told Reuters before the historic vote.

"If one of the two other bills is passed, we will launch another constitutional court challenge."

People took to the streets in celebration, with hundreds of gay rights supporters gathered in the rain outside the parliament building in the capital, Taipei.

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/iingwen/status/1129200931642302465]]

Others took to social media to declare their joy.

However, not everyone was happy with the result.

"The [government's] bill ignores the referendum results and that is unacceptable," conservative lawmaker Lai Shyh bao had said.

Victoria has now become the fifth Australian state to allow transgender and gender diverse individuals to change their sex on their birth certificate. In addition, children are now able to self-nominate themselves in order to change their gender or select a non-binary descriptor of their choice, the Daily Mail has reported.

On Tuesday evening, birth certificate bill was passed 26-14 at the Victorian Upper House. The bill will officially become law after receiving royal assent, and marks a significant win in the fight for transgender equality in Australia.

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It's a huge step forward for LGBTQ+ rights, as transgender people will now have the freedom to change their legal documents in order to reflect the sex they identify with socially. Trans individuals are also no longer required to undergo gender reassignment surgery in order to change their documents.

In addition, children who identify as transgender or non-binary will also be able to self-nominate in order to change their documents, as long as they have permission from their parents. Australian outlet The Age have also reported that a submission from a minor must also be accompanied by a statement from a psychologist or doctor.

This nine-year-old trans girl knew she was born the wrong gender from a young age:

[[jwplayerwidget||https://content.jwplatform.com/videos/IXZRN5jE-Q0L14jDU.mp4||IXZRN5jE]]

On Wednesday, Equality Minister Martin Foley told 3AW:

"Interstate and international evidence shows that whilst not a large number of people take up these options it's simply is an option that's there to people.

"Its the choice to make sure that identity documents reflect the reality of the life that people live."

[[imagecaption|| Credit: Getty]]

Victoria is now the fifth Australian state to pass these laws, joining Tasmania, Northern Territory, South Australia and the ACT - with Tasmania becoming the first state to make the inclusion on birth certificates back in April.

Taking to social media to celebrate the news, Attorney-General Jill Hennessy said the reforms were "overdue" - referencing the fact that the Andrews government failed to pass these laws through parliament in 2016.

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/JillHennessyMP/status/1166297597817962496]]

Hennessy said:

"Our birth certificate reforms have passed the Parliament! These overdue reforms will ensure that trans and gender diverse people can have a birth certificate which reflects their true identity.

"A small thing to many, but it means a world of difference to someone else."

Gender diversity activists took to social media to celebrate the success, which marks a significant win in the fight for transgender equality in Australia.

[[imagecaption|| Credit: Getty]]

In a statement, Hennessy also spoke about how the need for gender reassignment surgery prior to approval sent the wrong message about what it means to be trans:

"The current surgery requirement sends a painful and false message that there is something wrong with being trans or gender diverse that needs to be 'fixed' – that's why we're removing this cruel and unfair barrier."