Billboard broadcasts marriage support

Billboard broadcasts marriage support

A digital billboard in Brisbane is broadcasting messages of support for marriage equality from the public, submitted via email.

B&T reports that Queensland communications agency GrandBrands has teamed with outdoor media network Goa to create a pro-bono campaign for marriage equality in response to the State Government’s plans to roll back civil union laws.

The campaign has not been commissioned by a particular client, but has been put together by the two advertising companies to publicise Queenslanders’ support for gay marriage.

“This campaign was born from a need to show Australia that same sex relationships are just like heterosexual relationships, with the same emotions, values, needs and motivations,” Grand Brands director of advertising and design Dario Paolini said

“Research clearly shows the majority of Queenslanders support gay rights.

“Above all else, this is a human rights issue. There are people in our society who are hurting because they can’t be equal. We need to change that.”

Goa fought back against religious intolerance last year, posting a series of pro-gay signs on their digital billboards throughout Brisbane after the Rip ‘N Roll controversy.

The billboard company refused to remove the controversial Queensland Association of Healthy Communities advertisements from its outdoor sites throughout the state, despite pressure from the Australian Christian Lobby.

You can email your messages of support for marriage equality to [email protected] for consideration.

The digital billboard is located at Barry Parade, Fortitude Valley and will continue to show messages of support until 10pm on Sunday, June 3.

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2 responses to “Billboard broadcasts marriage support”

  1. This is fantastic! Unprompted positive messages from companies that have clearly invested advertising time and space to a cause. They need to be commended for their actions.

  2. everyone needs to e-mail their MP’s saying they want them to support marriage equality.
    Even if you don’t want to marry, we all deserve equal rights – and change will only happen if their is enough pressure on our pollies.

    If you live in the electorate of Brisbane, your fed MP’s e-mail is [email protected]

    If elsewhere, enter your postcode here to see your local federal MP’s e-mail http://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Members

    Dear Ms Gambaro,

    Yesterday I wrote telling you about the digital billboard in your electorate at the Valley 5-ways broadcasting pro-marriage equality messages. I also referred to your 2011 constituent survey showing 73% of your constituents support marriage equality.

    Today I want to discuss two recent Galaxy Polls showing strong support for marriage equality:

    24 May 2012 Galaxy Poll – shows 61% of Australians believe that parliament should pass legislation allowing same-sex couple to marry in this term of government rather than deferring it http://www.australianmarriageequality.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Galaxy-poll-May-2012.pdf

    Other significant findings from this poll are:
    “Three quarters (73%) of Australians say that the Coalition’s response to legislation allowing same-sex couples to marry should be guided by the Coalition’s tradition of allowing conscious votes on such issues.”
    “This is four times the level of Australians that say the Coalition’s response should be guided by Tony Abbott’s statement at the last election that he does not support the issue (21%).”

    19 May 2012 Galaxy Poll – shows 77% of Coalition voters want the Coalition to have a conscience vote on marriage equality http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/national/13731353/liberal-voters-back-free-vote-on-gay-marriage

    Plus I want to show you the media release by the two companies responsible for the billboard messages at the Valley 5-ways – see media release here https://www.facebook.com/notes/qld-gave-a-mandate-4-reform-not-homophobia/media-release-marriage-equality-have-your-say-on-a-billboard/393938400647792

    Clearly you can see the public wants marriage equality – and the strong majority of your constituents (73% and growing) expect you to support this.
    Please support marriage equality.

    In case you are not able to open the link provided to the media release, the wording is below:

    MEDIA RELEASE: Marriage equality: have your say on a billboard.

    A digital billboard in Brisbane’s inner city is broadcasting messages from the public about marriage equality amid concerns Campbell Newman plans to repeal civil unions in Queensland.

    Messages can be submitted via email to [email protected] for consideration, with the first messages having gone live on Monday May 28.

    Communications agency Grand Brands and outdoor advertiser goa billboards have teamed up to develop this proactive campaign supporting marriage equality.

    Grand Brands director of advertising and design Dario Paolini said marriage equality was a human rights issue.

    “This campaign was born from a need to show Australia that same sex relationships are just like heterosexual relationships, with the same emotions, values, needs and motivations,” Mr Paolini said.

    “Research clearly shows the majority of Queenslanders support gay rights.

    “Above all else, this is a human rights issue. There are people in our society who are hurting because they can’t be equal. We need to change that,” he said.

    Goa billboards national sales and managing Marshall Scott said the response to the campaign had been impressive.

    “Plenty of people want a say. Every hour we’ll be updating goa’s digital billboard with comments,” Mr Scott said.

    The digital billboard is located at Barry Parade, Fortitude Valley and will continue to show messages of support until 10:00pm on Sunday June 3.

    The billboard builds on momentum toward the ‘Equal Love’ rally in support of marriage equality, being held at Brisbane’s King George Square on Wednesday May 29 at 5:00pm.

    Grand Brands and goa billboards worked on the Embrace Acceptance campaign that dovetailed off public support of the controversial Rip and Roll campaign developed by Queensland Association of Healthy Communities.