Support for Same Sex Marriage

From eNews 457 – Friday, 24 July 2009

Three years ago, the Australian Parliament voted to explicitly exclude some Australians from the right to marry the person of their choice and to refuse to recognise all marriages solemnised overseas. This was the outcome of the former Liberal Government’s amendments to the Marriage Act to ban same-sex marriage, achieved with the support of the then Labor Party Opposition.

Next Saturday I will speak in support of marriage equality at the rally being held in Sydney as part of the Same Sex Marriage National Day of Action.

As a society we should value and support loving relationships. All adult couples making a life commitment to each should be able to marry if they wish.

The City shows its support for all couples through our Relationships Declaration Program. Couples can use this to record their relationships and to declare they are committed to a shared life together. In October, the NSW Local Government Association annual conference will consider a proposal put to it by the City to encourage other Councils to establish a similar program.

In February this year, the City became the first Australian Council to endorse the Declaration of Montreal, which aims to put GLBT rights on the United Nations agenda. The Declaration states: “As a matter of simple equality, same-sex couples are entitled to the full range of relationship options available to different-sex couples, including marriage for those who choose it.”

I will continue to work with the GLBT community to achieve this simple equality and invite you to join me at the rally in support of human rights.

Information

  Sydney Rally, Same Sex Marriage National Day of Action, Saturday 1 August: Rally outside Sydney Town Hall at 12pm, followed by a march to the Sydney Convention Centre, Darling Harbour

  City of Sydney Relationships Declaration Program: www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Community/ServicesAndP...

  Declaration of Montreal, including report to Council: www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Council/MeetingsAndCom...

  Campaign for Marriage Equality: www.australianmarriageequality.com

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