Equality advocates have hailed a mass gathering of marriage equality supporters in Parliament House yesterday as an important step towards reform.
More than sixty ordinary Australians from every state and territory gathered in Parliament House to lobby their local MPs and Senators.
Australian Marriage Equality Campaign Director, Rodney Croome, said the views of many federal representatives where positively impacted by the personal stories they heard.
“The gathering was a particularly dramatic example of the difference personal stories make, with parliamentarians who previously opposed marriage equality seriously considering their stance and, in some cases, declaring their support for equality.”
“In the course of the day some prejudices were challenged, some tears were shed, and most importantly some hearts and minds were changed.”
Those who travelled to Parliament House as part of the “Marriage Equality Goes to Canberra” Campaign included a diverse range of same-sex partners, their parents and children, Christian clergy, civil celebrants and LGBT community leaders.
Despite a busy parliamentary schedule, more than fifty MPs and Senators from both major parties, including Ministers and Shadow Ministers, made themselves available to meet community representatives.
The lobbying day has been the subject of intense local media interest with news reports focussing on those who took part in the event appearing in local newspapers and on local radio in every state and territory and across many regional areas. Some examples are included below.
“One of the most important outcomes from the lobbying day was that a national issue is also now a local issue”, Mr Croome said.
“On top of that, it was immensely empowering for so many supporters of equality to gather together to share their diverse stories and to join in a common purpose.”
Click here for a photo of community representatives at Parliament House yesterday, together with pro-equality West Australian Labor Senator, Louise Pratt. The photo was taken in the Senate Court Yard of Parliament House, Canberra, by Greg Barrett.
For more information contact Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668.
Local news reports:
http://wentworth-courier.whereilive.com.au/news/story/bondi-junctioncouple-fights-for-marriage-equality/
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/national/national/general/gay-marriage-activists-in-push-for-recognition/2322404.aspx
http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2011/10/11/267991_tasmania-news.html
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/gay-reverend-takes-the-marriage-fight-to-canberra-20111011-1lj09.htmlhttp://www.skynews.com.au/topstories/article.aspx?id=672417&vId
https://www.australianmarriageequality.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Shepnews.pdf