Marriage fight continues

It’s back to the streets again this weekend for same-sex marriage advocates, with a rally on Saturday at the State Library.
The rally follows last month’s defeat of the Greens’ Marriage Amendment Bill in federal Parliament. The Bill was defeated 45 votes to five.

Equal Love convenor Ali Hogg told Southern Star she believes the Bill’s defeat will spur on the community to get behind the issue.

“I hope that [the Bill’s defeat] will mean more people will see a point in coming out on the streets, because our voices obviously aren’t being heard in Parliament,” she said.

“I think it sends a message we need to show our strength in numbers.”

Hogg and other marriage equality supporters have been hitting Melbourne’s streets, collecting more than 50,000 signatures to back the cause.

“I’ve had a lot of people contacting me, quite upset about the [Bill’s] defeat,” Hogg said.

“I think a lot of people think in this day and age it’s quite disgusting that one section of society can’t do what another can. One of the things people say is, ‘We pay taxes too’. ”

The Victorian Trades Hall Council is the latest to sign up to the cause, with THC secretary Brian Boyd offering support in a recent statement.

“In a modern, enlightened country like Australia, the issue of same-sex marriage should no longer have any controversy or stigma attached to it,” he said.

“It’s time for us to move into the 21st century and end all interference in the personal relationships between consenting adults.”

The rally is set to entertain with drag identities Kaye Sera and Rocco D’Amore on hosting duties, a performance by Bumpa Love, and the official welcome by OutBlack.

Auslan interpreters will also sign the rally for the first time.

info: Equal Love rally, State Library, March 13 at 1pm.