THE announcement yesterday that federal Finance Minister Penny Wong and her female partner are having a baby has reignited debate over rights for same-sex couples.Senator Wong released a statement yesterday revealing her long-term partner Sophie Allouache is expected to give birth in December after falling pregnant through in vitro fertilisation (IVF).The announcement comes at a time when Prime Minister Julia Gillard will approach the next Australian Labor Party national conference with the issue of gay marriage high on the agenda.Ms Gillard’s views on the issue are clear – she believes marriage must be between a man and a woman. But there are many in her party who take a more liberal view. But, for a long period, Ms Wong has toed the party line on the issue in the past.When pressed on if she supported gay marriage in July last year, Ms Wong responded: “The party’s position is very clear that this is an institution that is between a man and a woman.” It was not until November last year that she sided with the growing momentum within her party to debate the issue.Clearly, the conflict between Senator Wong’s private and professional lives were going to be difficult to manage, particularly given her unofficial status among equal rights groups as a trailblazer.While most federal politicians were quick off the mark to offer their congratulations to the senator, far right New South Wales MP Fred Nile slammed the announcement as “setting a bad example” for Australians.A survey, published in Fairfax newspapers last November, showed 57 per cent of those surveyed supported gay marriage, while two-thirds of those who identified as Labor voters also backed it. Out of Coalition voters surveyed, 42 per cent supported gay marriage while 51 per cent opposed it.It indicates that while many will support the views of Mr Nile, rank and file members of the governing Labor Party are likely to support changes to legislation regarding same-sex couples.Coming at a time when Ms Gillard’s popularity is at all-time low levels and where federal parliament remains on a knife’s edge, a divisive debate poses further problems.The momentum for change on this issue could well provide another stumbling block for a prime minister attempting to maintain a strong hold on the nation’s leadership.