Marriage Equality supporters urged to help couple wed in New Zealand.
Terminally ill partner pens moving words to Julia Gillard.
Australian Marriage Equality has launched a crowdsourcing campaign for two women who want to legally marry, and sadly need to do so very soon.
Lee Bransden and Sandra Yates are an elderly couple living in Devonport, Tasmania, who want equal legal recognition for their relationship, but Lee is terminally ill with end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and has been given just weeks to live.
In response, Australian Marriage Equality has launched a crowdsourcing campaign to help the couple, both pensioners, to fulfill their dream.
Sandra and Lee’s final wish as a couple is to be legally married. They say it will show the world their commitment to each other. In Sandra’s words it will also give Lee something to look forward to and live for: “it will just make her really, really happy.”
Launching the crowdsourcing campaign today, national director of Australian Marriage Equality, Rodney Croome, said,
“Australian Marriage Equality has initiated a crowdsourcing campaign to help Lee and Sandra fulfill their dream of marrying. We hope supporters of marriage equality across Australia will help them out.”
“Lee and Sandra’s case is a reminder that marriage equality is about real people with real needs, not politics or parties.”
“Their dire situation is also a reminder that marriage equality is an urgent reform that needs to be resolved now, not some distant or trivial issue that politicians can put to one side.”
The fundraising campaign is seeking to raise $6,500 to pay for flights, accommodation and the wedding ceremony.
Lee and Sandra, who both worked as registered nurses, are now both on pensions and lost their life savings when a builder they employed went bankrupt. They recently sold their camper van to pre-pay Lee’s funeral.
Earlier this week Lee wrote a note to former Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, which was passed on by Rodney Croome at a Monday evening dinner with Ms Gillard in Hobart.
Lee wrote: “I have been a staunch Labor supporter since 1966 and strongly fought for feminist issues and equality for all. Please help switch on the light for same-sex marriage and take us out of the darkness.”
The address for the crowdsourcing campaign is: www.gofundme.com/t5dq26pw
Businesses keen to donate products and services for Lee and Sandra’s wedding can do so via www.australianmarriageequality.org/contact-us
For a news report on Lee and Sandra’s situation, click here.
A low resolution photo of Sandra and Lee (below) is attached. High resolution photos can be downloaded here:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/5oxdjq05mvuv707/AACDyRzkRxli24rCv5rvsy8ga?dl=0
All photos are to be credited to Heath Holden.
For more information contact Sandra Yates on 0477 322 902 or Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668.
Author: Rodney Croome
Publication:AME Media Release
Date: 4 may 2015
