Rally for marriage equality sends message to major parties: 'you're out of touch'

This media release was issued by the TGLRG on 14.8.10

600 supporters of same-sex marriage attended a rally this afternoon in Hobart where federal election candidates who support reform knocked down a symbolic wall of discrimination.

The larger-than-expected crowd heard candidates for the Green, Democrat, Secular and Socialist Alliance Parties as well as Tasmanian gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex (GLBTI) community representatives Martine Delaney and Rodney Croome.

Ms Delaney said the rally sent a strong message to the major parties that they are out of touch with mainstream opinion.

"Polls show 60% of Australians support marriage equality and today's rally showed that many people are willing to stand up and be counted."

Mr Croome urged the crowd to "come out for equality" by talking to their friends and family members about the importance of the issue.

"This is not just an issue for GLBTI people, or people who want to get married, it is an issue for all Australians because it is about ensuring full equally and about removing discrimination from the heart of one of our core social institutions, marriage".

The election candidates who spoke at the rally knocked down a symbolic wall of discrimination covered in words such as "bigotry" and "inequality", allowing a same-sex couple divided by the wall, Tracey Wing and her partner Sileto, to be united in a passionate embrace.

Today's rally is part of a national day of action commemorating the banning of same-sex marriage in 2004, and which will see rally in all state capitals and many regional centres.

The rally was organised by the Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group, the Tasmanian University Union Queer Society and the Socialist Alliance.

Photos from today's rally will be available tomorrow.

For more information contact Martine Delaney on 0417 530 621 or Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668.