Fridae

Marriage equality advocates in Australia have declared 2010 to be a “Year of Action for Same-Sex Marriage.”

Equal Love is a nationwide campaign for same-sex marriage in Australia and is spearheaded by the Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby with the support of  some 70 local gay groups, media, political and human rights organisations.

The Nov 28 march follows a nationwide rally held Aug 1 where thousands took to the streets to demand equal marriage rights.

Organisers say the aim of the march is two-prong as the Australian Senate is expected to due to release a landmark report on same-sex marriage on Nov 26.

“If the Senate committee argues for reform, our rallies will put pressure on the government to adopt its recommendation. If the committee supports the status quo of discriminatory marriage laws, our rallies will be an opportunity to express our outrage, and further galvanise public support for the cause.” 

The Senate is conducting an inquiry into the Marriage Equality Amendment Bill 2009 introduced by Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young. If enacted, it would redefine "marriage" under the Marriage Act in gender-neutral terms to allow for same-sex marriage. The Senate is believed to have received more than 20,000 submissions from groups and individuals either in favour of or against same-sex marriage.

Hanson-Young wrote in a commentary: "While the Greens recognise that not all same-sex couples want to marry (just like not all opposite-sex couples want to) we believe that choice should be made by the couple, not the Government. No one should have the right to tell you who to fall in love with. No one should have the right to tell you who you can marry."

Ben Cooper, a co-convenor of Community Action Against Homophobia (CAAH) in Sydney, told Australia’s Green Left Weekly that 2010 will mark a year in which LGBT people in Australia take to the streets to demand full, equal rights.

CAAH co-convener Ben Cooper told Green Left Weekly: “Whatever the report outcome, CAAH will be taking to the streets to demand full equality for same-sex couples. This means the immediate repeal of the homophobic ban on same-sex marriage.”

“The days of growing up invisible, and being treated as second-class citizens, has to end. For too long we have been treated as if our deepest feelings are second-rate and abnormal.

“For too long we have been bullied, bashed, censored, raped and rejected. For too long we have been marginalised, vilified and silenced.”

For updates and details, visit equallove.info. Sign the petition at http://www.equallove.info/petition

Rallies on November 28, 2009

Melbourne
November 28, 1pm
State Library

Sydney
November 28, 1pm
Sydney Town Hall

Adelaide
November 28, 11am
Parliament House

Canberra
November 28, 1pm
Garema Place, Civic

Brisbane
November 28, 1pm
Queens Park, City 

Why equal marriage rights? 

Thousands of same-sex couples in Australia wish to marry, but currently the law prevents them from doing so. They want to tie the knot for the same reason as straight couples – to publicly celebrate, with family and friends, their love for each other.

That shared love is equal to and no less worthy of legal recognition than the love shared by heterosexual couples. There is no justification for discrimination.

Many countries have woken up to this, but sadly Australia still supports inequality. In 2004 the federal parliament banned same-sex marriage, including the recognition of all same-sex marriages entered into overseas.

Our decision makers appear beholden to a small group of religious bigots. But marriage in Australia is a secular institution and therefore arguments based on religion have no place in this debate. 

Equal marriage rights would help to build community acceptance of lesbian and gay people and challenge homophobic views. The federal government, by opposing same-sex marriage, is effectively sanctioning homophobia.

Why not settle for civil unions?

Some people believe same-sex couples should ask for civil unions instead of same-sex marriage. But the Equal Love campaign firmly believes that there is no substitute for marriage equality. 

Research from the United States and Britain shows that employers and insurance companies often fail to recognise civil union partners, refuse to grant them their legal entitlements, or find other ways to discriminate against them. 

Overseas court decisions weighing up the benefits of civil unions and marriage equality have pointed to the lower social status of civil unions, and their failure to meet basic standards of legal equality. As a result the push is on, from Sweden to Vermont, to abolish civil union schemes and allow same-sex marriage instead.

If Australia establishes a national civil union scheme instead of removing marriage discrimination, we would be entrenching the second-class status of same-sex couples, opening them up to greater discrimination, and defying a global trend towards full legal and social equality.