NSW to rally to marry this Saturday

With its timing so close to the state election, GLBTI rights activists behind Saturday’s rally for marriage rights hope it sends a message to politicians at all levels that the job on equality for all Australians is yet to be completed.

The rally comes as Nielsen polling shows that supporters of same-sex marriage remain in the majority while opposition has dipped slightly over the last year.

Forty-four percent of Coalition voters, 65 percent of Labor voters, 81 percent of Greens and 57 percent of independent voters supported same sex marriage.

And in a surprise result, 59 percent of 27 Family First voters who took part in the survey supported marriage equality.

Australian Marriage Equality national convenor Alex Greenwich said the results showed broad support for same-sex marriage across Australia and among voters for all political parties.

“The key thing we can all do this year is take action,” Greenwich said. “We have to continue the momentum we’ve been building. The rally on Saturday is an opportunity for people to come out, make themselves visible and show their support for marriage equality.”

Community Action Against Homophobia co-convenor Cat Rose said the rally would be an opportunity to send a message to state politicians as well as federal parliamentarians.

“State elections provide a reminder that Julia Gillard is not the only person who could be doing something. A growing number of politicians are declaring their support for the issue, and we want to say it’s time we had some action.”

She said a Liberals decision to put the Christian Democrats second on how-to-vote cards for the Legislative Council made a mockery of recent attempts by the party to court the pink vote.

“At the moment neither of the major parties is prepared to grant equality, and while that’s the case, gay-friendly gestures are a bit hollow and meaningless.”

info: Rally for marriage equality, Saturday, March 19, 1pm, Sydney Town Hall.