Saturday 12 May 2012

4,000 ON THE STREETS DEMANDING EQUALITY.
LOCAL CELEBRITIES SHOW THEIR SUPPORT.

Equal Love was thrilled to see 4,000 people come out on the streets to demand equality today.

Equal Love convenor Ali Hogg said:

“We have been organising these rallies for 8 years and it’s great to see that people are still as passionate as ever! It has become an embarrassment that our Prime Minister, who is supposed to be the leader of the more progressive party, still holds  such a discriminatory position against marriage equality. It sends a message to LGBTI people that they are worth less, and that’s not on!”

The rally led by campaign group Equal Love marched through the streets of Melbourne chanting “What do we want? Marriage Equality! When do we want it? NOW!”

There was no shortage of outspoken celebrities prepared to show their support.

Amongst the speakers at the rally were Greens MP for Melbourne, Adam Bandt; half-brother of Bob Katter, Carl Katter; Channel Ten’s, Charlie Pickering; stand up comedian, Tommy Little. The crowd went absolutely wild to hear much loved Magda Szubanski who send a message from her mother “All Power to you!”.

A common theme of the speakers was that it’s great that Obama has come out in support of marriage equality but it’s about time that Julia Gillard got with the program to follow suit.

Equal Love are planning another demonstration for August 11, marking the 8 year anniversary since the Howard government change the marriage act to be solely between a man and a woman. Equal Love will hold a mid-winter vows marriage ceremony for all of those who have a desire to wed their loved ones but aren’t permitted to by law.

Equal Love  invites you to join us on Saturday May 12 at the Victorian State Library, Swanston st Melbourne from 1:00pm for our next protest rally. 

This will be the first National protest since we saw between 10 and 15 thousand people march outside the Sydney ALP conference.

Thousands are expected to march alongside one another in solidarity in support of the Australian Federal Government amending the current discriminatary law prohibiting marriage equality.

Let's keep up the pressure!

Please invite every supporter of equality that you know!

Let's make it big and loud so we won't be ignored!

May 12

1pm State Library of Victoria

Speakers confirmed:

Adam Bandt (MP)

Ben Convey (Union Pride)

Carl Katter (AME)

Kerrie Beitzel (Vic PFLAG)

Ali Hogg (Equal Love)

More speakers to be confirmed.

This will be an AUSLAN interpreted event

Equal Love proudly supports Australian Marriage Equality initiative “I DO DAY” to raise awareness of the campaign for marriage equality. We encourage everybody to update their status on their social networking sites to say “I Do” to Marriage equality and to get an “I Do” badge to show your support for the campaign.

To sign the petition go to www.ido.org.au

Equal Love welcomes the co-sponsored marriage-equality bill, by Greens MP Adam Bandt and Independent MP Andrew Wilkie, calling for the Marriage Act to no longer discriminate, as well a separate bill by Labor MP Stephen Jones.

Ali Hogg convener of Equal Love said “It’s a great start to the year with both Bandt and Wilkie co sponsoring such a bill and ALP MP Stephen Jones releasing a similar bill within days.”

“It puts us in good stead to keep the issue alive and for us to be able to continue to keep up the mounting pressure on MP’s to support equality and support the bills.”

Equal Love have called a National Day of Action for Saturday May 12 where we are hoping to see thousands of marriage equality supporters across Australia hit the streets in a loud and vibrant show of support to keep the pressure on politicians to grant equal rights for LGBTI people in Australia.

To see the Bill co sponsored by Bandt and Wilkie go to
http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22legislation%2Fbillhome%2Fr4748%22

To see the Bill by Stephen Jones go to
http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22legislation%2Fbillhome%2Fr4749%22

NEXT RALLY
Sat 12 May, 1pm State Library of Victoria

Media Contact
Ali Hogg: 0403 019 430
 

While Australia’s largest rally for LGBTI rights marched in Sydney on
December 3rd last year the ALP changed their party position to no
longer support discrimination in the marriage act but now it is time
to put their money where their mouth is.

Equal Love vow to keep up the pressure until the marriage act is changed in law.


Convener of Equal Love Victoria, Ali Hogg argues that “the platform
change is nothing but window dressing if it doesn't lead to
discrimination being removed from law.”


LGBTI people will keep mobilising until marriage equality is a
reality. Equal Love Victoria will be holding picket actions outside of
MP offices in 2012 to pressure them to vote in favor of equality as
well as taking part in a National day of Action to coincide with
International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia on Saturday May
12.


Hogg believes if we mobilise we can win “We saw over 10,000 people
marching outside the ALP conference and it was a real sign that
Australians are fed up and want equal rights granted in law!”


“If we keep up the mobilisations of thousands across Australia in 2012
to demand that all politicians vote for equality we have a real
potential to win”


From now on, we need to be demanding ALL MPs vote for equal rights. We
also demand that equal rights be adopted as binding policy by both
major parties.


NEXT RALLY:

National rally on Sat 12 May, 1pm State Library of Victoria


Media Contacts for January:

Louise O'Shae 0420 819 419

Anthony Wallace: 0414 877 399

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