Christian right lobbying against same-sex marriage
Australian Marriage Equality (AME) has issued an urgent call to supporters of marriage equality to contact delegates to this week’s ALP National Conference.AME spokesperson Alex Greenwich said far-right Christian groups are conducting a concerted delegate lobbying campaign that may see marriage equality knocked off the Conference agenda.-œUnless LGBT people and our families and supporters raise their voices now, opponents of equality may succeed in sidelining marriage equality at this week’s conference, Greenwich said.-œWe urge everyone to email or call conference delegates asking them to support marriage equality.-œTo help, AME has compiled the following list of conference delegates with their contacts, as well as key points to make.In today’s Australian newspaper, Australian Christian Lobby spokesman Jim Wallace said -œminority lifestyles should be respected but cannot be expected to dictate society norms as this 2per cent or less of the population seems intent on doing.His comments come as the ACL and other anti-gay groups like Salt Shakers mobilise their members to lobby against any debate about same-sex marriage at the ALP National Conference.Five points you should make in your phone call or email: 1. I am one of the 60% of Australians who support same-sex marriage. Its 64% support when you look at just Labor voters (Galaxy poll, June 2009) 2. Discrimination in marriage is inconsistent with the ALP’s stated opposition to discrimination and its principle of not pandering to prejudice (ALP National Platform, 2009) 3. Marriage in Australia is a civil institution, not a religious one (fmr Family Court Chief Justice, Alastair Nicholson) 4. Civil unions are not an adequate substitute for same-sex marriage 5. For all these reasons, the ALP needs to take action regarding discrimination in Australias marriage laws. At a minimum the National Conference should debate marriage equality.Anti-gay groups are very successful at mobilising large numbers of people at the last minute to thwart open and public discussion about equality issues like marriage. Supporters of marriage equality should make a phone call or send an email before 5pm on Wednesday 29 July.Making a call is very easy. Simply tell the person who answers that you are calling to register your support for marriage equality with <person’s name>. Try to mention the five reasons above. The person may ask you for your contact details, which you can choose to give or not to give as you wish.Sending an email is also easy. Either copy the individual email address below, or copy the -œemail all list to send a copy of your email to all the identified ALP conference delegates at once. Copy the five points into yoÃ¥ur email and include a personal message about why you think it’s important for the ALP to debate equal marriage at its National Conference. Email All List – copy this list of emails and send one to them [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] , [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] , [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], Contact IndividuallyAnna [email protected] 3224 4500Kevin Rudd Federal Labor Leader, Prime [email protected](02) 6277 7700Julia Gillard Deputy Labor Leader, Deputy Prime [email protected](02) 6277 7320Chris Evans Government Leader in the [email protected] 655 388 (WA only)Stephen Conroy Deputy Government Leader in the [email protected] 131 546 (VIC only)ACT Jon Stanhope Chief [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Kim [email protected] Nathan Rees NSW [email protected] Paul [email protected] Robert [email protected](02) 9585 9100Greg [email protected] Paul [email protected] Belinda [email protected](02) 4322 1922Christine [email protected] Eric [email protected] Michelle [email protected] [email protected] 301 987 (NSW only)Anthony [email protected](02) 9564 3588Mark [email protected](02) 9251 3766Chris [email protected](02) 9726 4100David [email protected](02) 4732 1801Tony [email protected](02) 9553 3800Linda [email protected] [email protected] Jason [email protected](02) 9790 2466Sharon [email protected] [email protected] Paddy [email protected] John Della [email protected] [email protected] Justine [email protected](07) 5523 4371John [email protected] 301 752 (NSW only)Amanda [email protected] Joel [email protected](02) 4991 1022Michael [email protected] 301 781 (NSW only)Noreen [email protected] [email protected] Trish [email protected] 301 713 (NT only)Anna Bligh QLD [email protected] Bill [email protected] Charis [email protected] [email protected] Mike Rann [email protected] Karen [email protected] Lyn [email protected] Mark [email protected] John [email protected] Nick [email protected] Kate [email protected] Don [email protected] David Bartlett Tas [email protected] 6233 3464Kevin [email protected] Danielle [email protected] 03 9432 9782Catherine [email protected](03) 5338 8123Jenny [email protected](03) 9459 1411Dave [email protected]
