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Melbourne marches for marriage

By on August 13, 2011

Thousands gathered on the streets of Melbourne today to call for marriage equality and mark seven years since the Marriage Act was changed to exclude same-sex couples.

Rally host, radio personality, Tracy Bartram was playful with the crowd and called on those assembled to get in contact with their local MPs to make their voice heard.

“It’s not about sledging the government, it’s about speaking to them,” Bartram said.

“[Marriage] is not about gender or sexuality, it’s about human rights… it’s time to end discrimination.”

Speaking to those gathered on the steps of the State Library, Greens MP Adam Bandt said the rally sent a positive message to federal Parliament that change is needed.

“People should have an unfettered, full and equal right to marry the person they love,” he said.

“You can’t have equality by half measures otherwise we have no equality at all.

“If we really believe in equality, if we fully believed in that, there would be no discrimination in the Marriage Act.”

Bandt hit out at Liberal Party MPs who had not spoken up on the issue.

“One of the things that disappoints me most, is when it comes to freedom, and an individual’s right to do what they like as long as it doesn’t harm someone else… is where are all the Liberal Party MPs, who bang on about individual freedom… but have been absolutely silent on this issue.”

“It’s shameful.”

Brunswick MP Jane Garrett, flanked by Labor colleagues Richard Wynne, Martin Foley and Brownyn Pike, spoke about the joy she felt on her wedding day and the dignity of signing marriage documents, while her sisters in law were not afforded the same rights.

Garrett said Labor MPs were fighting for change to the ALPs opposition to change.

“We’ll fight it to the last breath,” she said.

Australian Services Union spokeswoman Ingrid Stitt said marriage should be available to all Australians.

“Today’s a great turnout, but let’s be honest, good will is not going to win this campaign, there’s one simple thing that needs to happen and that is legislative change.”

“We’re with you in that fight, and we’re with you until you get that right.”

The rally concluded on the Treasury Building steps where same-sex couples participated in a mass ‘illegal’ wedding.

About Andie Noonan

16 Comments

  1. Charlie Brown

    August 13, 2011 at 6:32 pm


    why change the legislation for something that only appeals to 3% of the population!!!!! sine when does the minority rule?
    IF THERE IS TO BE A CHANGE TAKE IT TO THE POLLS and see what the majority REALLY thinks – or are you afraid??
    We’ve seen your obscure polls done on the sly.
    No-fault divorce has already hurt our society, so has de facto relationships, now we want to sentence future children to a life without knowing who their true parents are….
    I feel sorry for next generations trying to figure out who their ancestors were…..

  2. Jake

    August 13, 2011 at 7:40 pm


    Charlie Brown = religious troll.

    True to form, his/her religion is actually not mentioned in the above list of unsubstantiated points that read like they were cribbed from the Australian Christian Lobby’s paranoid manifesto.

    Congrats to everyone who marched in Melbourne and Adelaide today!

  3. Matt

    August 13, 2011 at 8:01 pm


    Charlie – because if 3% of the population (dubious statistics) opt to get married, it has absolutely no effect on you whatsoever.
    Eat a dick.

  4. Ron

    August 13, 2011 at 8:26 pm


    By your logic, Charlie, black people would be still sitting at the back of the bus and drinking from segregated drinking fountains.
    I can assure you that this ‘appeals’ to more than 3% of the population. Over 70% of Australians support Marriage Equality. We are talking about civil rights. GLBTI people are already having children! I fail to see how allowing them to marry would harm them.
    YOU are the minority…thankfully.

  5. Dave

    August 13, 2011 at 9:39 pm


    Great Rally!

  6. ANdy

    August 13, 2011 at 9:39 pm


    Mat, Ron and Jake, I agree with you totally. I cant wait until it is legal to marry one of your own children too.

  7. greens are communists and will bankrupt australia

    August 14, 2011 at 12:54 am


    “thousands”???? the real papers are reporting 1200 people.

    Seriously is that all that show up ?

    1200 people sorry to disappoint you gays but really no one cares for your cause and all you are doing is finding and seeking out a polarised opposition to your cause

  8. Tennille Blackmore

    August 14, 2011 at 12:56 am


    Charlie Brown: Human rights are not subject to a majority vote. They’re inalienable.

  9. Marco

    August 14, 2011 at 1:27 am


    I agree with Charlie – lets’ have an election on this matter

  10. Dave

    August 14, 2011 at 8:02 am


    @ANdy

    If wanting sex with children is the best you can do, then you have lost your mind.

    You are sick thinking Marriage is about childsex.

    Get help! Go to the police and hand yourself in.

    @Charile

    You think marriage is about owning another person. You also need to get some help. Do you kill them when they leave you? How many bodies in your back yard?

    Hand yourself into the police and get help.

  11. Ronson Dalby

    August 14, 2011 at 10:48 am


    “I cant wait until it is legal to marry one of your own children too.”

    Thats says a heck of lot about you, ANdy, and absolutely NOTHING about marriage equality.

  12. Mike

    August 14, 2011 at 11:31 am


    Andy, that will never happen. Charlie, it’s people like you that make our determination even stronger. Thank you both for sharing your invalid perspectives. Onwards and upwards!

  13. Patrick

    August 14, 2011 at 1:03 pm


    Andy, I don’t know why you bother. Does somebody need to use a jackhammer to get it through your head that, apart from the fact that children are unable to consent to marriage, pedophilia is a grotesque abuse of a child’s basic rights leaving them with profound mental scarring? If you were referring to grown children, incestuous relationships are recognised as an abuse of a non-sexual relationship involving an abuse of trust. You are making an offensive and absurd comparison to same sex relationships which are not abusive,and which include two consenting, intelligent adults entering a marriage which is fundamentally no different from a heterosexual one- shame on you.

  14. Sam Salvidge

    August 14, 2011 at 6:28 pm


    Great rally in Sydney on Saturday too! We are gonna keep marching until we get our rights. Looking forward to seeing you all on Dec 3rd outside the ALP conference.

  15. owen

    August 15, 2011 at 2:46 pm


    Sure, Gay marriage will be great, for marriage celebrants that is. We live in an age where people dont take their vows seriously anymore and enter marriage blindfolded. Many a people separate and divorce too quickly. And whats next, well be able to marry our pets too!

  16. Dave

    August 16, 2011 at 11:05 am


    Owen your are full of hate as usual you tool.

    Perhaps when my cat can look after me in sickness and in health, and sign the certificate, you might just have a point. But I will accept pink elephants fly backwards to keep the sun out their eyes before I accept your rubbish.

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