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theweaselkingA group of angry Australians have colonised a string of tropical islands in the Pacific Ocean and declared them the first all-gay country.
Determined to build a better world for future generations, the founding fathers and mothers set sail on 14 June 2004 in the Gayflower until they were washed ashore on the uninhabited Coral Islands. With the strains of Gloria Gaynor filling the tropical air, they hoisted the rainbow flag above the palm trees and white, sandy beaches. The Gay and Lesbian Kingdom of the Coral Sea Islands was born.
It sounds like a big joke - but it isn't. Located six hours by boat from Australia's Queensland coast, The Coral Sea Islands are a cluster of deserted sandbanks which span 780,000 square killometres - that's roughly the size of Sweden and Norway put together.
A group of gay men and women have declared the sandy dots the world's first independent, sovereign, gay state in protest at their country's stance towards gay marriage. The new capital, dubbed Heaven Island, is the size of the City of London.
Although gay marriage has never been legal in Australia, Prime Minister John Howard, worried about the slew of same-sex unions in the US, introduced the Marriage Amendment Bill, banning pink weddings.
It was approved by the Australian Parliament at the start of August, thwarting couples who had married in countries where same-sex unions are allowed from having their relationships recognised by the Australian courts.
Although the declaration of independence has been dismissed as a stunt by practically everyone, the kingdom's leaders believe they have a valid claim to the islands. Essentially, they argue their new home is appropriate compensation for the inequalities they have suffered as a result of the government's stance towards same-sex marriage. This is based on the arcane legal principle in English law of unjust enrichment, which says that if something is unjustly taken, compensation must be made.
Newly-appointed Emperor Dale Anderson, who is descendent from England's gay King Edward II, explains: "We are deadly serious in our declaration. We have done five years of planning for this and covered everything, both legally and financially. Every politician in Australia as well as the Governor General, the Queen's representative, has been sent a copy of the declaration and the necessary paperwork to cede the territory from Australia."
For more information about the island, visit www.gaykingdom.org
Determined to build a better world for future generations, the founding fathers and mothers set sail on 14 June 2004 in the Gayflower until they were washed ashore on the uninhabited Coral Islands. With the strains of Gloria Gaynor filling the tropical air, they hoisted the rainbow flag above the palm trees and white, sandy beaches. The Gay and Lesbian Kingdom of the Coral Sea Islands was born.
It sounds like a big joke - but it isn't. Located six hours by boat from Australia's Queensland coast, The Coral Sea Islands are a cluster of deserted sandbanks which span 780,000 square killometres - that's roughly the size of Sweden and Norway put together.
A group of gay men and women have declared the sandy dots the world's first independent, sovereign, gay state in protest at their country's stance towards gay marriage. The new capital, dubbed Heaven Island, is the size of the City of London.
Although gay marriage has never been legal in Australia, Prime Minister John Howard, worried about the slew of same-sex unions in the US, introduced the Marriage Amendment Bill, banning pink weddings.
It was approved by the Australian Parliament at the start of August, thwarting couples who had married in countries where same-sex unions are allowed from having their relationships recognised by the Australian courts.
Although the declaration of independence has been dismissed as a stunt by practically everyone, the kingdom's leaders believe they have a valid claim to the islands. Essentially, they argue their new home is appropriate compensation for the inequalities they have suffered as a result of the government's stance towards same-sex marriage. This is based on the arcane legal principle in English law of unjust enrichment, which says that if something is unjustly taken, compensation must be made.
Newly-appointed Emperor Dale Anderson, who is descendent from England's gay King Edward II, explains: "We are deadly serious in our declaration. We have done five years of planning for this and covered everything, both legally and financially. Every politician in Australia as well as the Governor General, the Queen's representative, has been sent a copy of the declaration and the necessary paperwork to cede the territory from Australia."
For more information about the island, visit www.gaykingdom.org
(no subject)
Date: 2005-01-12 05:26 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-01-13 04:31 am (UTC)