Learn how to lobby your MP

Marriage equality supporters in Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Hobart will be given instructions on how to lobby their politicians as pressure on the Gillard Government to alter the Marriage Act mounts.

Australian Marriage Equality hope the workshops will ensure politicians in these areas will get to hear more first-hand stories of people who are disadvantaged because of the marriage equality ban introduced by the Howard government.

AME National Convener Alex Greenwich said marriage equality would only be achieved when a wide range of supporters felt able to voice their support for reform in their local community and to their local MP.

“We know that a majority of Australians support equality, but so far opponents of equality have captured the attention of law-makers by being more vocal”, Greenwich said.

“Our priority is to have multiple grassroots voices raised in support of reform at a local level in each and every electorate.”

The Labor Party will debate its position on marriage equality at its national conference in December. Greenwich hopes all MPs will have heard from a range of constituents who support marriage equality prior to the meeting.

“We have already conducted workshops in Sydney and Melbourne, and having learnt what works best we will now roll them out to all other capitals and regional centres,” he said.

Presenters at the workshops include eminent anti-homophobia trainer and author of Beyond ‘That’s So Gay’, Daniel Witthaus; National PFLAG spokesperson and Queensland’s Senior of the Year, Shelley Argent; and prominent gay law reform advocate and co-author of ‘Why v Why: Gay Marriage’, Rodney Croome.

Brisbane
June 4th
9.30am to 12.30pm
New Farm Neighbourhood Centre
967 Brunswick St, New Farm

Perth
June 25th
9.30am to 3.30pm
Northbridge Piazza Function Centre
cnr Lake and James Sts, Northbridge

Adelaide
July 9th
9.30am to 3.30pm
AIDS Council of South Australia
2 Eton Rd, Keswick

Hobart
July 16
9.30am to 3.30pm
Meeting Rm 1, McDougall Bdg
Ellerslie Rd, Battery Point