Kylie Moon, Sydney

On June 18, 20 people took to the Births, Deaths and Marriage Registrar to protest the passing of the Marriage Amendment Act. The day before, the bill, which outlaws same-sex marriage, was passed in federal parliament.

The action was initiated by the recently formed Campaign Action Against Homophobia. Protesters attempted to enter the registry to conduct a marriage ceremony for a lesbian couple. Due to persistent security guards, the ceremony took place outside the office.

“The Marriage Amendment Act, passed yesterday in the House of Representatives, with bipartisan support, is blatantly discriminatory against gays and lesbians”, CAAH spokesperson Rachel Evans said.

“Not only does it deny our right to marry whom we choose, but it sends an outdated and bigoted message that only relations between men and women have any moral value.

“No superannuation or gay adoption crumbs will negate the fact that this law institutionalises anti-gay prejudice. The recent diatribe from both Liberal and Labor against the Play School episode with two loving mums is another sign of the pre-election agenda — it’s called bash the minority.

“Labor’s response to this is to follow the Liberals’ homophobic agenda. It supports the homophobic tenet of the bill and all that is has done is to send it to a Senate inquiry.

“This is just one of the actions planned. We encourage everyone to get involved in CAAH and help organise more actions like these.”

[CAAH meets Wednesdays at 6.30pm at the University of Technology Sydney (ground floor). Phone Rachel on 0403 798 420.]

From Green Left Weekly, June 23, 2004.
Visit the Green Left Weekly home page.

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