Gay marriage starts legal march down under

The Parliament of the Australian capital, Canberra, signed a bill allowing same-sex couples to register marriage.

Thus, the metropolitan area has become the first region in the country to legalize same-sex unions.

Under the bill, same-sex couples can marry on the territory of the capital, even if they reside in another region.

At the same time, the federal law of Australia defines marriage only as a union between a man and a woman. The federal government is expected to revise this regulation soon.