Annabelle McDonald
December 23, 2005

JOHN Howard has ruled out recognising same-sex marriages, angering gay men and lesbians across the country.

Singer Elton John and Canadian filmmaker David Furnish were among hundreds of same-sex couples to wed in England and Wales this week when Britain followed Canada, Belgium, The Netherlands and Spain, to officially recognise same-sex unions.

Yesterday in Sydney, the Prime Minister said he opposed gay unions and believed marriage could exist only between a man and a woman.

Asked if he could support gay marriage in light of Sir Elton's civil union, he said: "I would be opposed to it. I think marriage is for men and women. That's why we amended the Marriage Act (in August last year)."

Mr Howard said he did not intend to show hostility or discrimination towards gay people. "But I believe very strongly that marriage is exclusively a union for life of a man and a woman to the exclusion of others," he said.

However, Mr Howard said he supported removing other discrimination against people in same-sex relationships.

Former Australian Medical Association president Kerryn Phelps, who married her partner Jackie Stricker in New York almost eight years ago, yesterday said she was angry their union was not recognised in Australia.

"I have serious concerns about the intrusion of the church into matters of the state," Dr Phelps said. "Gender is the least important factor in determining whether a relationship is worthy of marriage.

"It makes me angry, disgusted, it makes me ashamed in many respects of our system of government and it makes me determined Australia should have a bill of rights that enshrines equality."