AUSTRALIAN MARRIAGE EQUALITY
Media Statement
Thursday April 11th 2013
Advocates have welcomed the passage of marriage equality legislation through the Uruguayan parliament saying it should embarrass Australia’s political leaders.
Australian Marriage Equality national director, Rodney Croome said,
“Our national leaders should hang their heads in shame when countries like Uruguay treat their gay and lesbian citizens in a more civilised and equitable way than Australia.”
“The fact Australia doesn’t have marriage equality is fast becoming a source of national shame, making the campaign for equality, in part, a battle to reclaim some pride in ourselves as a nation.”
Yesterday the French Senate passed a marriage equality law while the New Zealand parliament is expected to pass the reform in a matter of days.
The UK House of Commons recently overwhelmingly endorsed marriage equality.
Uruguay is the twelfth nation to allow same-sex couples to marry and the fourth country in Latin American to allow such marriages at a national or local level after Argentina, Mexico and Brasil.
Both Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott oppose marriage equality. About two thirds of the ruling Labor Party’s MPs have voted for reform. In the absence of a conscience vote, Coalition MPs cannot vote for it.
For more information contact Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668.