Same-sex marriage campaign launched

On June 20, 30 people attended a public forum to launch a campaign for an August 12 national day of action for same-sex marriage rights. The NDA is being built around three slogans: "Repeal the ban on same-sex marriage", "Give us civil unions" and "Hands off same-sex adoption", and so far, rallies are being planned in Sydney, Melbourne, Lismore and Perth.

The forum, organised by Community Action Against Homophobia (CAAH), was addressed by speakers from Australian Marriage Equality, Sex and Gender Education, Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (P-Flag), the NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby, the NSW Council for Civil Liberties, the Metropolitan Community Church and the Socialist Alliance, as well as other queer rights activists.

According to a national survey conducted by Galaxy Research for the activist group GetUp!, results of which were released on June 21, 71% of Australians support equality for same-sex defacto couples and 57% support same-sex marriage. This is a dramatic increase from the 38% who supported same-sex marriage in a 2004 Newspoll.

A number of Coalition MPs have announced that they will push for a national ban on same-sex adoption in the lead-up to this year's federal election. On June 14, it was reported by Australian Associated Press that Australia's first legal adoption by a same-sex couple has already occurred in Western Australia.

From GLW issue 715