Thousands March for Marriage Equality in Melbourne

On Saturday August 13, Melbourne saw thousands attend a rally marking 7 years since the marriage act was changed to say that marriage is strictly an institution between a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others.
Many who are outraged at the ALP governments continuation of the discriminatory marriage act came out on the streets to show their anger. Over 40 couples participated in an 'illegal' wedding.
Equal Love campaigners made a push from the front for rally goers to join equal rights activists from around Australia to protest outside the ALP national conference in Sydney on December 3rd.
Equal Love campaigner Ali Hogg was pleased with how the rally went:
"It's exciting to see that 7 years on we still see thousands still prepared to come out and keep up the fight. It's so important that we keep up this level of enthusiasm and passion if we want to see marriage equality granted in Australia."
Hogg continues:
"All eyes are on the ALP national conference on December 3rd. We encourage others to do what they can to attend the protest in Sydney to send a message to Gillard and others in the ALP that they are out of step on this issue and mus grant marriage equality now. We won't accept further stalling on this issue!"

Facebook group for Victorians going to ALP conference

You van view footage of the speeches and the march below

Photo: C Oakley

Wedding March Rehearsal

Equal Love volunteers and friends braved the rain and cold in Melbourne in a mid week wedding rehearsal march for some last minute attention grabbing to help promote the Mass Illegal Wedding and Equal Love rally on Saturday August 13 marking 7 years since the Howard government changed the marriage act to make it unequal.

Rally Details:

1pm, August 13

State Library of Victoria

Equal love- No Joking matter!

Equal Love is excited to announce the entertainment at this Saturday's Rally and Mass Illegal wedding marking the 7th anniversary since the Howard Government changed the marriage act to discriminate against many LGBTI Australians.

The Rally will be hosted by Long time supporter of the LGBTI community, comedian and radio personality Tracy Bartram, who is very excited about hosting the rally after being married three times, having had two husbands and thinks it's about time others had a turn!

And staying with the theme of comedy and radio we also have to entertain us, the young up and coming Nath Valvo who people may have heard on JOY 94.9 or at one of his shows around Melbourne during the comedy festival or on Scoop TV. Below is his recent plug for the upcoming rally.

And last but not least we will have a performance by drag acts Polly Filla and Bumpa Love who are a part of the Sparkletts. These two performers have entertained our rallying crowds in previous years and never fail to provide us with entertainment with a strong message for the crowds.

So if you like your political message of fighting for marriage equality along with a little bit of entertainment then you don't want to miss the August 13 rally and mass illegal wedding at 1pm this Saturday on the lawns of the State Library of Victoria.

Rally Details: August 13, 1pm, State Library of Victoria.

Media Contacts:

Louise: 0420 819419

Anthony: 0414 877399

MARRIAGE ACTIVISTS TO HOLD WEDDING REHEARSAL THREE DAYS BEFORE MASS ILLEGAL VOWS IN MELBOURNE

Photo: Alison Bennett

1pm,
 Wed
10 
Aug ,
corner 
of 
Bourke 
and 
Elizabeth
 Sts,
marching
 to 
registry

Equal
 Love 
will 
hold 
a 
mock 
wedding 
rehearsal 
on Wednesday 
in 
the Melbourne 
CBD 
to 
prepare 
for
 the r
major
 rally
 on
 the 
weekend.
The 
rehearsal
 aims 
to
 draw
 attention
 to
 ongoing
 discrimination
against
 same
-sex
 couples
 and 
to 
add
 to
 the
growing
 pressure
 the 
ALP 
is 
under
 to 
change
 their 
policy
 on
 marriage
rights.

Convenor
Ali
Hogg:

“This 
August
 marks
 seven 
years 
that
LGBTI
 people
 have 
been 
suffering 
under
this
 discriminatory 
ban.
 Our
 mass illegal 
wedding, and
 the 
rehearsal,
 is
 about
showing
 the
 government 
that 
we will 
not
 be 
silenced,
 and that
 love 
cannot 
be 
outlawed.
 With
 polls
 showing 
that
 over 
65 
per
cent
 of 
the 
public are 
behind
 us,
 we 
are
 confident 
there 
will 
be 
no 
objections
 to 
the 
nuptials.” Participants
 will
 march
 from 
the
 CBD 
to
the
 registry
 office 
in 
full
 wedding 
dress.

For
more
information,
contact:

Louise
O’Shea
0420819419

Anthony
Wallace
041487739

Equal Love song by Mikki Ross.

Learn it because we'll be playing it at the August 13 rally!

EQUAL LOVE by MIKKI ROSS remix by Mikki Ross