HISTORIC MOTION: Tasmanian Parliament First in Australia to vote for Marriage Equality

In a historical vote today we saw the Tasmanian Parliament be the first in Australia to vote for Marriage Equality.

The motion put by the Greens leader Nick McKim and was supported by Premier Lara Giddings and got overwhelming support by politicians with only 2 speaking against the motion in the debate.

The vote was passed 13votes for 9against to support marriage equality and called on the Federal Government to reform the marriage laws.

Australian Marriage Equality national convener, Alex Greenwich, said the vote will send a powerful message to the rest of the nation.

"Today's vote sends a compelling message to the Federal Government that it's time for all Australian couples to have legal equality", Mr Greenwich said.

Ali Hogg Convener of Equal Love Victoria was thrilled by the result:

“This is a historic day for marriage equality! A big congratulations to Tasmania!!”

“The Tasmanian motion is a great start if we want to see full marriage equality in Australia. It is a massive step forward and shows if we keep up the pressure we can actually win this campaign”

“It is vital that we keep up the pressure on the ALP so hopefully their members follow suit with their Tasmanian colleagues and support marriage equality at their National Conference in December” Ms Hogg concluded.


Equal Love invite all supporters of marriage equality across Australia to head to Sydney to protest outside the ALP National Conference this December.

NATIONAL CONFERENCE RALLY DETAILS: 12pm, Saturday December 3 at Hyde Park North (Sydney, NSW)

Open Letter to ALP National Conference Delegates Endorsed by Equal Love and Australian Marriage Equality

If you would like your organisation to be added to the following open letter please email equalloveaustralia@gmail.com with your organisation's name and symbol.
This will be presented to ALP National Conference Delegates.

OPEN LETTER TO ALP NATIONAL CONFERENCE DELEGATES

Dear delegates,

The amendment of the Marriage Act by the Howard government in 2004, which restricted marriage rights to heterosexual couples to the exclusion of all others, represented the most serious attack on LGBTI rights in decades.

In one stroke, it relegated every non-heterosexual relationship to second-class status, and provided validation for homophobic prejudice in all its forms. To all those suffering abuse, marginalization or rejection because of their sexuality, it sent a clear message that the Australian government sides with discrimination and hate. And it epitomized the divisive, wedge style politics that had characterized the Howard era, and that voters rightly sought an alternative to in 2007.

While the Howard years are now a distant memory, it is to the everlasting shame of the subsequent government that homophobic discrimination is not. It is time for full equality before the law for LGBTI people to become a reality.

Equality means full equality. The 2011 ALP conference must commit to supporting full marriage rights for all couples. Civil unions, or any other scheme which creates a special or second-class category for non-heterosexual couples, should be vehemently rejected. Such a scheme will reinforce and perpetuate discrimination, by maintaining the exclusion of LGBTI people from the most common form of relationship recognition in society today. Until full marriage rights are granted, there cannot be genuine equality.

The ALP national conference presents an important opportunity for the party to commit to upholding equal rights for all Australians. We therefore urge delegates to reject any half-measures and to support full marriage equality for LGBTI people this December.

Equal Love welcomes Australian Marriage Equality poll showing 3 in 4 people think marriage equality inevitable in Australia.

Equal Love convenor Ali Hogg commented:

“I am very pleased with these results and I think it shows that the majority of Australian’s are well ahead of politicians on this issue. Three out of four people rightly expect equality to be enshrined in Australian law – why doesn’t Gillard? It’s time the government took a lead from the people.

But she went on to point out that expectations alone will not ensure equal rights:

“Whilst it’s great that majority of Australians not only support marriage equality but expect it, we cannot sit back and rely on the politicians to change the Marriage Act without each and every one of us doing what we can to make sure it happens. Marriage supporters need to keep speaking out and rallying until the marriage ban is repealed, and state sanctioned discrimination abolished. “

August 2011 marks seven years since the Government changed the marriage act to restrict marriage to heterosexual couples to the exclusion of all others. Across Australia there will be rallies and illegal weddings to mark this shameful milestone, and to demand equal rights.

The Melbourne rally will be at 1pm on Saturday 13 August 13 at the State Library, and will conclude with a mass illegal wedding.

Supporters of marriage equality gay and straight are encouraged to attend and show their support.

Hogg continued:

“It’s important to come out to take a stand now more than ever in order to really put the pressure on the ALP to change the marriage act. We will be calling on the ALP to change their policy to be in full support of marriage equality at their conference this December. We will accept no compromise, no second class substitute for marriage and no wishy washy talk of a conscience vote. The ALP needs to commit to supporting full equal rights, or prepare to feel the anger of the three in four who are with us in this fight.”

Equal marriage supporters will be rallying outside the ALP national conference this December to show their support for a change in policy and full equality.

For more information contact:
Ali Hogg Equal Love convener 0403 019 430