After a nearly decade-long campaign, prohibition on same-sex marriage has been abolished following the annulment of the third part of the Second Amendment to the Austenasian Constitution. This marks the conclusion of a political battle that has rocked and divided the nation.

Same-sex marriage was constitutionally prohibited in 2018 after the passage of the Second Amendment to the Constitution of Austenasia, defining marriage as being ‘between one man and one woman’ in line with Christian beliefs. The Amendment was controversial and has attracted criticism as homophobic.

A previous attempt to provide same-sex couples the ability to formalise their relationships by Her Imperial Highness Vera Caesarissa Romanorum in 2019 failed after the former Emperor Jonathan vetoed the bill, resulting in the secession of the Duchy of New Virginia. The matter has remained a politically contentious issue within Austenasia since, both domestically and internationally. The issue has served as a straining point for attempts to reintegrate with the Grand Unified Micronational and the ongoing reconciliation with the Union of New Virginia.

Following the ascension of Emperor Alexander, an Imperial Edict was published obligating officers of state to uphold equal protections, marking the beginning of renewed efforts to overturn the Amendment. An All Austenasia Party government was elected at the 2025 General election on the platform of abolishing the prohibition of same-sex marriage.

A new amendment was proposed to Parliament on March 16th, poised to explicitly legalise same-sex marriage. The debate was controversially closed early by the Speaker of the House, Lord Koff of Aesti, who slid in at its conclusion to oppose the bill on religious grounds. Still, the bill achieved near-universal support, with only Lord Koff and Lord Simpson of Taysha dissenting. As a result of the margins required for the amendment proposal to pass parliament however, the bill was set to fail as a result, requiring over 80% of all Representatives in favour.

As all seemed lost, Vera Caesarissa Romanorum along with the former Emperor Jonathan made a joint-discovery that the relevant section of the Second Amendment was in fact never legally adopted by referendum, having failed to pass the stricter necessary threshold at the time. As put by Vera, “same-sex marriage is, and always has been, legal in the Empire of Austenasia”.

The Emperor confirmed the legal appeal, and issued a decree declaring that the relevant section of the Amendment was officially annulled, in effect legalising same-sex marriage and removing any constitutional roadblocks to further legislation on the matter.

The ruling saw celebration amongst Austenasia and its allies, concluding a years-long civil rights struggle. Crown Prince John bestowed honours to both Vera and Lord Jonathan, of whom received Dame Protector of the Order of the Crown Prince and Knight Protector of the Order of the Crown Prince respectively, for both long service to the Empire and in Vera’s case her fight for LGBT rights in Austenasia.