Australia's Twitter and Facebook feeds have pretty much unanimously given up on Australia today.
The Australian High Court struck down the ACT's historic Marriage Equality (Same Sex) Act today, ruling that marriage is a matter for the Federal Parliament and that the ACT's legislation is incompatible with the Federal Marriage Act's definition of marriage.
"The Marriage Act does not now provide for the formation or recognition of marriage between same sex couples," went the ruling. "The Marriage Act provides that a marriage can be solemnised in Australia only between a man and a woman and that a union solemnised in a foreign country between a same sex couple must not be recognised as a marriage in Australia. That Act is a comprehensive and exhaustive statement of the law of marriage."
The decision was unanimous, and though it would have been fun to read famed dissenter Michael Kirby's counter-argument if he still sat on the High Court bench, you kind of get the feeling that the High Court's hands were tied here — no matter what sort of legislative gymnastics the ACT managed to pull off, it won't matter until the Federal Marriage Act changes.
27 couples in same-sex relationships who wed in Canberra over the weekend (during the five day window between the initial hearing and the High Court's verdict) are now expected to have their marriages annulled.
Australia's social media networks are essentially in meltdown right now, as Australia has rushed headlong into what Dan Savage calls our "George Bush moment".
Gay marriage is a slippery slope to happiness and equality. It cannot be tolerated. #auspol
— Fake Andrew Bolt (@andrewbolt) December 12, 2013Disappointed at the #marriageequality results. It was expected, but it feels like a kick in the guts
— Chris Tracey (@ctbne) December 12, 2013For. Fuck's. Sake. Australia.
— Steve Wright (@stevivor) December 12, 2013Dear High Court. What the fuck do you care? Sincerely, Compassionate Australia
— sancz (@fivewalls) December 12, 2013Fuck you High Court of Australia!! I am ashamed to be Australian today!! #marriageequality
— Jarrod McCloughan (@jazza1983) December 12, 2013Well fuck, the high court nullified the ACT same sex marriage law. FUCK YOU AUSTRALIA, I'M SICK OF THIS SHIT
— Ms Naughty (@msnaughty) December 12, 2013Fuck the high court, fuck bigots. We should have #equality Australia wide. #AusPol
— bel. (@bellavenom) December 12, 2013What the fuck! Fuck you Australia! pic.twitter.com/bF7dNPKGyT
— em (@EmJaneWilliams) December 12, 2013fuck you tony abbott. australia will never be cool because of you
— geoRg (@perfniall_) December 12, 2013For fuck’s sake, you pack of arseholes. RT @craigthomler: Same-sex marriage illegal again in Australia - http://t.co/zrxQHx3G2N #auspol
— ʞɔıu (@virtualwolf) December 12, 2013Oh cool, Australia is protected from people in love getting married once again. Thank fuck.
— Bec (@Brocklesnitch) December 12, 2013So we've overturned gay marriage. Fuck you Australia! #samelove #MarriageEquality
— Polly Maeve (@PollyMaeve) December 12, 2013Fuckin hell, I don't think I've ever been less proud to be Australian than today. #MarriageEquality
— Mark Jamieson (@mark606800) December 12, 2013REALLY REALLY REALLY FUCKING PISSED OFF WITH THE HIGH COURT OF AUSTRALIA RIGHT NOW!!!!! YOU ARSEHOLES!!!!! #MarriageEquality #equal
— ❤️ROSIE❤️ (@rosie6172) December 12, 2013Its kinda like saying that only white people can get married #MarriageEquality
— uncutaussie (@uncutaussie) December 12, 2013Devastated and Pissed off! Australia is backward. I should have the same rights as everyone else #marriageequality #equal
— Jonathon Moran (@jmoconfidential) December 12, 2013Australia, for why? It's nearly 2014. #MarriageEquality pic.twitter.com/NekJsuwHdU
— Mike Nicholson (@Mikey_Nicholson) December 12, 2013That sound you can hear is a Australia re-emerging into the 1940's... #holden #marriageEquality #NBN #auspol
— Michael Wyres (@mwyres) December 12, 2013HIGH COURT/GOVERNMENT YOU ARE WHY WE CAN'T HAVE NICE THINGS. #MarriageEquality
— Maddi ✌ (@maddichip) December 12, 2013Heartbroken for the precious couples who have had their marriages voided by Abbott's bigotry. #auspol #marriageequality
— Dr Benjamin T. Jones (@BenjaminTJones1) December 12, 2013Oh fuck off High Court and Abbott, you're disgraceful! #auspol #marriageequality
— Tiffany B (@epicdiremeerkat) December 12, 2013How disgusting of the High Court to overturn the ACT marriage equality bill. I forgot we are all Neanderthals... #MarriageEquality #SameLove
— Brooke Simon (@BrookeBubs) December 12, 2013Marriage equality aside, Tony Abbott has pissed off pretty much everybody this week by refusing to sign a UN treaty that would outlaw violence against children ("I don't think we ought to say that there's no place ever for a smack," he cautioned); approving a new coal export terminal and the dredging and dumping of sludge near the Great Barrier Reef; breaking his NBN election promise;and allowing Holden to leave Australia. (Oh, and then there's that Save Our ABC campaign — you just know that one's not going to end well.)
So — where are YOU going to move to?
