Chiang-Cruise

Towleroad is reporting some figures by Nate Silver on places that recognise gay marriage.  Unfortunately Australia (Big Fail) isn’t featured.

"The big spike you see in 2008 is California recognizing gay marriage through the courts, and then un-recognizing it through the passage of Proposition 8. Right now, it’s possible to marry your same-sex partner in Buenos Aires, in Mexico City, in Ames, Iowa, and in Pretoria, South Africa, but not in San Francisco. With countries like Argentina and Portugal now recognizing same-sex marriages, however, the global trajectory has returned to its slow-but-steady upward pace."

[Source: Original Article]

Argentina on Thursday became the first country in Latin America to legalize same-sex marriage, following a landmark Senate vote carried live on national television.

The law, backed by the center-left government of President Cristina Kirchner, was adopted in a 33-27 vote after 15 hours of debate. In this majority Roman Catholic country, some had reservations, but the law passed. "It is a historic day," said ruling party leader Miguel Pichetto.

Opposition Radical senator Gerardo Morales said Argentine society has changed, stressing that the bill was aimed at guaranteeing the rights of minorities.

The law tweaks the legal code which no longer will refer to husband and wife, but rather to "the marrying parties".

Same-sex couples will have the same rights as heterosexuals in terms of adoptions, social security and family time.

Argentina became the first country in Latin America to give a green light to same-sex marriage nationwide. It followed, around the world, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Canada, South Africa, Norway, Sweden, Portugal and Iceland.

[Source: Original Article]

EQUAL LOVE – Same-sex marriage campaign

MEDIA RELEASE – 13 August 2009

Gay men called "faggots" and expelled from Parliament House during Marriage Breakfast

Two gay activists have this morning been expelled from the Great Hall in Parliament House Canberra, for challenging Labor’s Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion’s stance on same-sex marriage.

The activists held placards reading "Social Inclusion means equality" at a breakfast held by religious groups to celebrate the ban on gay marriage in Australia.

Spokesperson for EQUAL LOVE, John Kloprogge said that August 13th represented a national day of shame in Australian political history.

After standing on the stage for a few minutes, religious members from the audience grabbed the men and forcefully removed them from the room.

It is understood one of the men said, "get out of here you faggots" before grabbing one activist by the neck.

"We were attending this unholy event to make a statement about the hypocrisy of the Rudd Government supporting and endorsing a ban on gay marriage"

"It is particularly galling that the Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion, Senator Ursula Stephens, provided the Rudd Government’s endorsement to this gathering of anti-gay lobby groups and offered ongoing support to excluding gay and lesbian people from civil marriage."

"This gathering in our Federal Parliament represents the biggest anti-gay protest group since the marriage ban was implemented in 2004."

"It is important that gay and lesbian people stand up wherever they are and make a statement that we are entitled, as Australian citizens to equality under the law."

"The expulsion from this homophobic breakfast is just another indication of how gay and lesbian people are treated as second class citizens."

"The real marriage here is between extreme religious view and the complicity of the Rudd Labor Government in acceding to those view."

Mr Kloprogge warned the Rudd Government that fostering a closer relationship with anti-gay groups and the Christian Right would not be welcomed by mainstream voters.

"Overwhelmingly, Australians reject anti-gay discrimination. A recent galaxy poll revealed that up to 60 per cent of all Australians support same-sex marriage".

Same-sex marriages are legal in Canada, Sweden, Spain, Denmark, South Africa and several US states, but are being blocked in Australia by the Labor Party under pressure from religious groups.

John Kloprogge can be contacted on 0422 913 942 email act@equallove.info or 0401 262 852

John will be available for media comment at Parliament House on 13th August 2009

**************************

Update: Harley Dennett has posted a number of pics about the Parliament House
breakfast.

John Kloprogge and John Davey on stage, with their banner:
http://www.twitpic.com/doc0e

Bill Heffernan asks John K whether he’s under the age of consent:
http://www.twitpic.com/docnh

Petitions for marriage equality, launched in Hobart as part of the marriage equality National Day of Action, are now on-line.

The petitions are the first of their kind in Australia, with co-sponsors, Australian Marriage Equality and the Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group, hoping to gather 10,000 signatures before presenting them to parliament.

The petitions – one to the House of Representatives and one to the Senate – can be downloaded from http://www.australianmarriageequality.com/petition.htm.

They must be printed out, filled out by hand and returned to the TGLRG by September 30th.

Here is some more video from YouTuber “kkrocket” showing some of the Rally in Melbourne yesterday supporting same-sex marriage.  You can see Jeff, Ethan (in pram asleep!) and I at about 1.22 mins.

MEDIA RELEASE
1 August 2009

Australia sees largest public demonstrations for same-sex marriage in nation’s history

MELBOURNE — August 1 saw the largest public demonstrations for same-sex marriage in

Australia’s history take place throughout the continent.

In Melbourne alone, an estimated 5,000 people took to the streets to demand that the federal government introduce same-sex marriage, making this the largest single show of support for marriage equality ever in Australia.

In addition to the thousands that participated in marches and rallies, over 200 couples across the nation participated in illegal same-sex wedding ceremonies, setting what organizers believe to be a world record for the largest number of participants in a mass illegal wedding ceremony.

Despite the nationwide show of support for marriage equality, delegates at the Australian Labor Party’s national conference in Sydney today effectively voted for no change to the party’s policy regarding marriage, maintaining the definition as a union between a man and a woman.

"Although the decision of the ALP delegates was disappointing, I think politicians from all sides now understand that this is not an issue that’s going to go away. Today’s rallies put it clearly on the national agenda," said Tim Wright, co-convener of Equal Love, the organizer of the Melbourne rally. "Marriage equality is rapidly spreading throughout the world and we’re going to be back here year after year until we get it in Australia."

MEDIA CONTACT: Tim Wright, Equal Love, 0400 967 233
http://www.equallove.info

Some photos from the National Day of Action in Melbourne available at:http://www.flickr.com/photos/equallove/

Media background
* Rallies took place in eight cities across Australia on Saturday, August 1st; Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Canberra and Lismore. See: http://www.equallove.info/node/16/

* A Galaxy poll released in June shows 60 per cent of
Australians support same-sex marriage, increasing to 71 per cent of
people under 35. See: http://www.australianmarriageequality.com/Galaxy200906.pdf

AUSTRALIAN MARRIAGE EQUALITY

Media Statement
Saturday August 1st 2009

ANGER OVER LABOR’S FAILURE TO TACKLE SAME-SEX MARRIAGE
CIVIL UNIONS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR FULL EQUALITY
RUDD GOV’T USING CONSTITUTION AS "SMOKESCREEN"

Marriage equality advocates are angry the ALP National Conference has failed to properly debate same-sex marriage, voting instead to keep marriage as only between a man and a woman.

Australian Marriage Equality spokesperson, Alex Greenwich, said the ALP has let down the 60% of Australians who support same-sex marriage.

"The ALP’s failure is deeply hurtful to same-sex partners, offensive to the majority of Australians who support same-sex marriage, and embarrassing to the entire nation at a time when even Albania is moving forward on this issue."

"Mr Rudd is now the Prime Minister who has broken the nation’s heart."

Mr Greenwich said the ALP’s new policy for a national framework recognising personal relationships is no substitute for equality in marriage for same-sex couples, and actually highlights marriage discrimination.

"The ALP’s new policy effectively says all personal relationships will be recognised for all purposes, except same-sex couples still can’t marry."

"Whether the new policy allows civil unions to have ceremonies or not is beside the point because civil unions entrench discrimination be giving same-sex relationships a second-best status."

Mr Greenwich also rejected Attorney-General, Robert McClelland’s, view that the Federal Constitution prevents the Government from allowing same-sex marriages.

"The Rudd Government is using the Constitution as a smoke screen for its own prejudices and cowardice", Mr Greenwich said.

Mr Greenwich urged all Australian who support same-sex marriage to send submissions to the current Senate inquiry into the issue.

Rallies and events in every capital city are being conducted today in support of marriage equality.

Mr Greenwich said these events show "the honeymoon is over" for Kevin Rudd and the Labor Party.

Mr Greenwich is a speaker at today’s same-sex marriage rally outside the ALP National Conference.

He can be contacted on 0421 316 335.

Today was the Equal Love – National Day of Action on Same-Sex Marriage in Australia.  It was also the final day of the National Australian Labor Party conference where same-sex marriage was hopefully on the agenda.

The rallies were held around the country with the biggest in Melbourne which Jeff, Ethan and I attended.

Rodney Croome has done his usual excellent summary of the NDA and the Labor Party response and you can read it here.

Gays and Lesbians are rightly pissed off with the Labor government for the cowardly, unprincipled and indefensible stand taken today.  They do not deserve our votes at the next election, particularly those like Lindsay Tanner in the seat of Melbourne.  He is very vulnerable to losing to the Green candidate and we are grateful to be in his seat to help vote him out.

A short video of the march up Collins Street towards the Registry office is below. Thanks to YouTuber Jonowilko for the video.

A LESBIAN couple has travelled more than 13,000km to marry because Australian laws do not recognise same-sex marriages.

Davina and Beck Storer are furious at being forced to travel to the other side of the world for the ceremony.

The couple travelled to Canada in June where they married during a low-key service in Vancouver.

"It wasn’t the big white frock if that is what you are asking, it was just two beautiful women in beautiful dresses committing to share the rest of their lives together," Ms Storer said.

"We chose Canada solely for the reason they would legally marry us, and you don’t have to be a citizen.

"But it is sad that we have to travel to another country to do this instead of here at home with our family and friends.

Read more…

AUSTRALIAN MARRIAGE EQUALITY
Media Statement
Friday July 31st 2009

- SAME-SEX MARRIAGE ADVOCATES REJECT CIVIL UNIONS
- AUSTRALIA "EMBARRASSED" BY ALBANIA

Advocates for same-sex marriage have rejected moves towards a national civil union scheme at this weekend’s ALP national Conference.

Responding to reports that Labor’s gay caucus, Rainbow Labor, may settle for the watered down national civil union scheme because of opposition to same-sex marriage from Kevin Rudd, spokesperson for Australian Marriage Equality, Alex Greenwich, said civil unions do not provide the rights or respect that come with marriage.

"There’s no room to negotiate on equality, our rights are not an enterprise bargaining agreement", Mr Greenwich said.

"Overseas studies have found civil union schemes do not fulfill their promise of providing same-sex couples with equal entitlements or recognition, and on this basis we oppose such a scheme."

"With 60% of Australians behind us, large public demonstrations expected for tomorrow, and ever more nations supporting marriage equality, we are happy to hold out for full equality."
Mr Greenwich condemned those ALP delegates who are attempting to stifle debate on same-sex marriage.

"With reports in today’s press that even Albania is moving forward on same-sex marriage, it is deeply embarrassing for many Australians that the ALP National Conference is seeking to avoid this discussion simply to appease Kevin Rudd and the minority of Australians he represents on this issue."

For a copy of a recent Galaxy poll showing 60% of Australians support marriage equality visit www.australianmarriageequality.com

For details of tomorrow’s National Day of Action on marriage equality visit www.caah.org.au/nda

For more information contact Alex Greenwich on 0421 316 335 or Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668