Carl Katter to Join Equal Love Protest at Gillard Melbourne Visit.

This Wednesday 28th of September Julia Gillard will be attending a lunch at the Park Hyatt . Equal Love and the Refugee Action Collective have joined forces to protest against Julia Gillard’s discriminatory continuation on the ban on marriage equality and her party’s treatment towards refugees.

With the ALP National conference only three months away, Equal Love call on all supporters of marriage equality to join us on this spring morning to maintain the pressure for marriage equality.

Equal Love Convener Ali Hogg states:

“With the recent motion in Tasmania supporting marriage equality, It’s super important to maintain the growing pressure on Gillard and others in the ALP, so we’re inviting all supporters to come out and show their support for equal rights. The majority of Australians support marriage equality and it’s about time the ALP took a stand on this issue and got rid of discrimination.”

Equal Love are very excited to have Carl Katter, brother of renowned homophobe Bob Katter, coming out to throw his support behind the campaign for marriage equality.

“It’s so fantastic that Carl Katter is speaking at the rally. I think he has proven to be an inspiration to many, having the bravery to come out publicly in the face of conservative brother , MP and head of the Australian Party, Bob Katter, who says the idea of same-sex marriage deserved to be ridiculed” Hogg concluded.

In response to speaking at the rally tomorrow Carl Katter states:
“I am the first to acknowledge the hard work the Labour Party has done in regards to Human Rights...but you can't progress half way...we either have equality or we don't. Marriage equality has to happen so that the hard work they have done is not diminished simply because they are pandering to the christian right!” Katter said.

GILLARD RALLY DETAILS: 11:30 am, Wed September 28 at Park Hyatt Hotel (1 Parliament Square), Melbourne.

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

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)

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

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.

Our next rally Details: Rally and Mass Illegal Wedding Saturday 13 August, 1pm State Library of Victoria, City.

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Equal Love is thrilled to announce the host of Melbourne’s upcoming Equal Love Rally and Mass Illegal Wedding:Tracy Bartram!

In lobbying for equal marriage rights, entertainer Tracy Bartram will join Victoria’s Equal Love protest rally on August 13, marking the seventh anniversary since the Howard Government amended Australia’s marriage laws discriminating against LGBTI people.

The comedian says it’s about time Australia followed other countries and jurisdictions in ending discriminatory marriage laws.
“We live in the greatest country in the world. Our lifestyle is second to none. Yet we are far behind other countries like Canada, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, South Africa, and Sweden when it comes to recognising that same-sex couples fall in love and want to commit to each other,” Bartram said.
Equal Love was thrilled when Bartram agreed to speak at the upcoming rally.
“What better person to host the event than a strong, opinionated woman such as Tracy Bartram who really knows how to stick it to the man (so to speak),” Melbourne Equal Love Convenor Ali Hogg said.
Hogg said the August rally is particularly significant in terms of preceding the national ALP conference to be held later this year.
“In the lead up to the ALP National conference where marriage equality will be debated, we want to get the message out loud and clear at our upcoming protest that homophobia and discrimination is not welcome in Australia and therefore the laws in place that perpetuate this homophobia should be gotten rid of. I think Tracywill do a great job at helping us to get this message out!” Hogg said.
Bartram said it was time politicians cast aside old prejudices in favour of public rallying around the issue:
“Why are we allowing our elected officials to ignore the huge lobbying in support of this issue? Personally, I've had two husbands and three marriages, and marriage for me has lost its lustre. But I don't see why the GLBTI community should be excluded from marrying just because it's 'always been that way'” she said, adding, “And let’s face it – nobody does ‘wedding’ better than a gay or lesbian couple!”
Bartram said she was proud to join the rally and declare her support for the issue.
“We could all learn a little … a little more tolerance, a little more acceptance, and a little more tub-thumping to show our government that this issue will not go away.
“I am sad that this is even an issue in 2011. I'm very much looking forward to the rally on August 13th,” Bartram said.

Victorian Rally Details: Rally and Mass Illegal Wedding Saturday 13 August, 1pm State Library of Victoria, City.

For Comment: Ali Hogg 0403 019 430

Tracy Bartram: www.tracybartram.com.au

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