gaygroups
08-13-2005, 09:22 PM
MORE than 1000 gay rights activists today gathered across the nation to rally for marriage equality, marking one year since the Howard government's changes to the Marriage Act.
About 600 gathered in Sydney to march from Taylor Square - the heart of the city's same sex community - to Hyde Park for a rally.
A sea of pink hearts was also planted in Victoria Park, Camperdown, by members of the Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby, the Aids Council of NSW (ACON) and New Mardi Gras.
Lobby co-convenor Julie McConnell said the hearts symbolised equal love.
"Last year's marriage ban was a statement based on discrimination and prejudice against lesbians and gay men, it was statement which said that our love is not equal," Ms McConnell said.
"(The) pink hearts show that our relationships with each other and our children are equal and deserve full legal equality."
The amendments to the Marriage Act, defining marriage exclusively as a union between a man and a woman and banning the recognition of overseas same-sex marriages, passed the Senate on August 13 last year.
In Melbourne, about 400 people gathered at the Town Hall to march to Federation Square, where same-sex couples took "midwinter vows".
The crowd made a colourful sight, wearing rainbow coloured heart-shaped stickers and waving heart-shaped flags.
Melbourne rally organiser Pete Dillon said same-sex couples missed out on many benefits enjoyed by heterosexual couples, including superannuation, tax and defence force spousal benefits.
Demonstrations - including a mock same-sex wedding - also took place in Hobart, Perth and Brisbane.
Australian Marriage Equality (AME) national convenor Luke Gahan said delegates at an Amnesty International human rights conference in Mexico City would also hold a protest at 3pm local time (6am AEST Sunday).
Mr Gahan said activists would continue to fight for equal recognition.
"Our families contribute to the nation like every other family, yet they are still being denied the right to marry or the ability to form federal de facto relationships," Mr Gahan said.
"There is no reason that same-sex couples in Australia continue to be denied any legal recognition under federal law." Same-sex marriage is legal in Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Canada and the US state of Massachusetts.
About 600 gathered in Sydney to march from Taylor Square - the heart of the city's same sex community - to Hyde Park for a rally.
A sea of pink hearts was also planted in Victoria Park, Camperdown, by members of the Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby, the Aids Council of NSW (ACON) and New Mardi Gras.
Lobby co-convenor Julie McConnell said the hearts symbolised equal love.
"Last year's marriage ban was a statement based on discrimination and prejudice against lesbians and gay men, it was statement which said that our love is not equal," Ms McConnell said.
"(The) pink hearts show that our relationships with each other and our children are equal and deserve full legal equality."
The amendments to the Marriage Act, defining marriage exclusively as a union between a man and a woman and banning the recognition of overseas same-sex marriages, passed the Senate on August 13 last year.
In Melbourne, about 400 people gathered at the Town Hall to march to Federation Square, where same-sex couples took "midwinter vows".
The crowd made a colourful sight, wearing rainbow coloured heart-shaped stickers and waving heart-shaped flags.
Melbourne rally organiser Pete Dillon said same-sex couples missed out on many benefits enjoyed by heterosexual couples, including superannuation, tax and defence force spousal benefits.
Demonstrations - including a mock same-sex wedding - also took place in Hobart, Perth and Brisbane.
Australian Marriage Equality (AME) national convenor Luke Gahan said delegates at an Amnesty International human rights conference in Mexico City would also hold a protest at 3pm local time (6am AEST Sunday).
Mr Gahan said activists would continue to fight for equal recognition.
"Our families contribute to the nation like every other family, yet they are still being denied the right to marry or the ability to form federal de facto relationships," Mr Gahan said.
"There is no reason that same-sex couples in Australia continue to be denied any legal recognition under federal law." Same-sex marriage is legal in Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Canada and the US state of Massachusetts.