5,000 Australians attend marriage equality and anti-homophobia rallies

Messages of support from Sir Ian McKellen and Dannii Minogue

Across Australia on 15 May 2010, five thousand people took to the streets to show support for equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex Australians.

The cast and director of Waiting for Godot – Sir Ian McKellen [pictured, holding petition with 100,000 signatures], Rodger Rees, Matthew Kelly and Sean Mathais – attended the Melbourne rally in person voicing their support for Equal Marriage laws.

In a pre-recorded message for the other rallies across the country Sir Ian McKellen spoke about the need for federal anti-discrimination laws and marriage equality. Sir Ian’s message explained how coming out 25 years ago his life “changed for the better”.

“When you come out, people get affected by your honesty and it’s only when gay people respect themselves enough to be honest, that we can then demand that governments too “come out” in our support and establish what is obvious – that all people are born equal, it’s just bad laws that make them unequal.” said Sir Ian.

Australian singer and actress Dannii Minogue was unable to attend the rally in Sydney in person, but also sent in a message of support for the marriage equality campaign in Australia.

“It’s so important that gay people be given total equality and as you know that includes marriage.” said Ms Minogue.

“While government continue to ban same-sex marriages, gays lesbian and transgender community remains second class citizens.”

The May 15 rallies were held to coincide with International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO). Held annually on May 17, IDAHO marks the day in 1990 when the World Health Organisation removed homosexuality from its list of mental disorders. Various IDAHO activities held across Australia around this day challenge homophobia and transphobia and celebrate diversity in general.

These rallies build on the momentum of the campaign for recognition of same-sex marriages as part of the National Year of Action / Equal Love campaign. On 13 August of this year, Australia will mark the 6th anniversary since the Howard Government changed the Marriage Act 1961 (Cth), with ALP support, to ban same-sex marriage.

Media release courtesy of Australian Coalition for Equality

For more information please contact: Corey Irlam 0401 738 996.
For more info nationally on the Equal Love / National Year of Action events: http://www.equallove.info/node/29 or http://caah.org.au/nya
For more information on national IDAHO events: http://www.lgbthealth.org.au/idaho