Australia's parliament voted overwhelmingly to reject gay marriage after days of heated debate that saw one senator resign from a key role after linking same- sex unions to bestiality.The House of Representatives voted down the bill to legalize marriage between same-sex couples by 98 to 42, with Labor Prime Minister Julia Gillard and opposition conservative leader Tony Abbott both voting against it. Gillard allowed Labor MPs a conscience vote while the opposition rejected it.
Outspoken Liberal Senator Cory Bernardi quit as Abbott's parliamentary secretary amid uproar after he questioned what the next step would be if the government redefined marriage.
"There are even some creepy people out there who say it is okay to have consensual sexual relations between humans and animals. Will that be a future step?" he asked the Senate.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
