Equal Love welcomes “ALP Clash”

Equal Love Melbourne welcomes the “clash” in the ALP over the issue of same-sex marriage. Senior MPs Richard Wynne and Bronwyn Pike have stated their support for equal rights for gay and lesbian couples; candidate for the federal seat of Melbourne Cath Bowtell has now also come out in support of same-sex marriage. Cath Bowtell has agreed to speak at the National day of Action in August in Melbourne.

The 2010 {ALSO} Awards & celebration on the ALSO Foundation’s 30th birthday was a night to celebrate the hard work many have put in over the last 12 months and to pay recognition for that work.

Equal Love are pleased to announce that EQUAL LOVE won an award in the category of "the Most Outstanding Community Campaign or Initiative" (Awarded to acknowledge the most significant community campaign, initiative or action by a community group or organisation)

Ron Hughes, MCV 25 May 2010

Almost 5,000 people turned out to rally for same-sex marriage on Saturday, May 15. The National Day of Action saw rallies in all the major capitals with Melbourne’s by far the largest.

Sir Ian McKellen – accompanied by the director and co-stars of Waiting for Godot – addressed the crowd before handing a petition of 100,000 signatures to the Greens’ sexuality spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young.

Phoebe Kelloway, Queer Officer of the National Union of Students said Hanson-Young literally struggled under the weight of the petitions handed to her.

Messages of support from Sir Ian McKellen and Dannii Minogue

Across Australia on 15 May 2010, five thousand people took to the streets to show support for equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex Australians.

The cast and director of Waiting for Godot – Sir Ian McKellen [pictured, holding petition with 100,000 signatures], Rodger Rees, Matthew Kelly and Sean Mathais – attended the Melbourne rally in person voicing their support for Equal Marriage laws.

In a pre-recorded message for the other rallies across the country Sir Ian McKellen spoke about the need for federal anti-discrimination laws and marriage equality. Sir Ian’s message explained how coming out 25 years ago his life “changed for the better”.

Star comedians come out in support of same sex marriage to help raise funds for the campaign for equal rights.

[photo: Josh Thomas, from Channel Ten's Talkin' 'bout your Generation]

Read on here.

Every time Kevin Rudd, Tony Abbott and other national leaders insist that marriage should only be between a man and a woman, that gay and lesbian men and women are to be forever excluded from this most basic of social institutions, they send a message of support to those who hate homosexuals and wish them harm.

Read on here.