Nationwide push for marriage

Marriage equality rallies drew thousands of protesters around Australia on the weekend.

An estimated 6,600 people, including around 4,000 in Melbourne, took to the streets on Saturday, May 12 to call on federal Parliament to legalise same-sex marriage.

Over 1,000 people gathered in Sydney, while an estimated 600-700 people turned up to a rally in Brisbane.

Similar events were also held in Canberra and Perth, however, a protest in Hobart was called off due to bad weather.

At the largest rally in Melbourne, comedian Magda Szubanski told the crowd Australia had an international responsibility to show tolerance by allowing same-sex marriage.

“There are people who live in parts of the globe where simply being gay will mean they face the death penalty,” Szubanski said.

“If this country can’t practice tolerance how can we expect any other country to be capable of tolerance?”

Victorian Equal Love convenor Ali Hogg said she was pleased with the turnout.

“We have been organising these rallies for eight years and it’s great to see that people are still as passionate as ever,” Hogg said.

“It has become an embarrassment that our prime minister, who is supposed to be the leader of the more progressive party, still holds such a discriminatory position against marriage equality.

“It sends a message to LGBTI people that they are worth less and that’s not on.”

At the Adelaide rally Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said Australians were telling political leaders change is needed.

“Ordinary Australians are giving the Labor and Coalition leaders a strong but positive message that it’s time they removed discrimination from the Marriage Act,” Hanson-Young said.

Photo: Benn Dorrington