City of Sydney backs 58 -˜08

City of Sydney backs 58 -˜08

In a move that is adding increasing pressure to the Rudd Government to take action, the City of Sydney has backed the Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby’s (GLRL) 58 ’08 campaign, and has urged the Federal Government to implement the recommendations of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission’s Same-Sex: Same Entitlements Report.

Last week the City of Sydney unanimously adopted a resolution to call on the Federal Government to act swiftly to remove discrimination against same-sex couples and their children by amending the 58 laws, together with any additional laws identified by the Government. The resolution also endorsed the GLRL’s 58 ’08 campaign, and supported the lesbian and gay community’s aspiration of full equality for same-sex couples.

In addition, the resolution called on the NSW State Government to amend all remaining NSW laws which discriminate against same-sex couples and their children, and it urged the Federal Attorney-General to support the ACT Government’s Civil Unions Bill.

Support for this campaign at a local government level acknowledges the rights of gays and lesbians as well as our contribution to society and reflects the high level of support that these reforms have in the wider community. If the City of Sydney is willing to put its weight behind these reforms, then it shouldn’t be much of a stretch for other non-GLBT organisations to come on board and join the campaign for equality.

Now that the council with the largest population of gays and lesbians in NSW has supported the campaign, the GLRL will be encouraging other local councils to follow suit. In the coming weeks the GLRL will also be calling on a wide range of community and non-GLBT organisations to support our campaign in order to increase pressure on the government to act.

As the appearance of the Human Rights Commissioner’s appearance on the GLRL’s Equality-¦Bring it On! parade float showed, it is not only members of our community who want these laws fixed as soon as possible.

Lesbians, gay men, their families and friends have already sent over 700 letters to the Federal Attorney-General through the GLRL website. With the support of local governments, a coalition of community organisations and you, the GLRL is aiming to get the number of letters to over 7000. With your support, we can make it happen.

Info: Send this link www.glrl.org.au/58 to your friends and family today.

Emily Gray and Peter Johnson are co-convenors of the NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby.

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