Insight: Most people who do not support marriage equality in Australia are older (support decreasing with age).

To help these people to appreciate the problem of marriage inequality we will focus on an issue of a similar nature that is likely to apply to them or those close to them: the lack of acknowledgement of couples in aged care.

Background: Many older Australians have family members facing the prospect of aged care or will be looking at options for themselves or their partners. A distressing reality for these people is that spouses can be separated in old age as they are often unable to attend the same care home or are placed in separate rooms or given single beds and no privacy. There is no uniformity in how facilities deal with this issue.

Until there is marriage equality, institutional disregard for significant adult relationships is a daily reality for LGBTI Australians.

Idea: Equality Australia will create the world’s first database of the aged care providers that enable couples to remain together in care (regardless of their sexual orientation).

The database wlll be accessible as a user-friendly location-based search engine called “Respect My Relationship” and will be used by older Australians searching for couple-friendly options for themselves or family members.

Centres meeting defined criteria will be awarded with the “Respect My Relationship” quality standard featuring the Equality Australia logo. Comprehensive directories such as Aged Care Guide can use the logo to indicate those centres which respect all significant relationships (regardless of orientation).

Older Australians previously closed to the idea of marriage equality will be looking out for the Equality Australia logo to find the facilities that respect relationships – including their own.