Students take a stand
Hundreds of students are expected to rally on the steps of the State Library this Saturday to hand over a 30,000 strong petition demanding equal rights for same-sex couples in marriage.
National Union of Students queer department is holding a speak-out and will be handing the petition to federal Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young.
Hanson-Young will fly down to Melbourne for the rally to accept the petition to table in federal parliament.
The Greens senator moved last week to amend the Same-Sex Relationships Bill (Omnibus Bill) to allow for same-sex marriage. This was defeated in the Senate.
The petition comes on the heels of hopeful news -” the first of the Same-Sex Entitlements bills passed in the Senate, with the superannuation bill to follow.
NUS queer officer James Vigus said although entitlement changes are occurring, the petition for marriage was about -œchoice.
-œI think the petition reflects that the government is out of touch with the people on this one, Vigus told Southern Star.
-œWe’ve come a long way, however, if we change the Marriage Act to include same-sex couples. Anything short of that isn’t enough.
info: The NUS Equal Rights petition handover and speak-out is on this Saturday, November 22, 1pm at the State Library, Swanston St.
