[Greens-Media] National Day of Action for Same Sex Marriage – time to act for human rights for all

[Lee Rhiannon]

MEDIA RELEASE
1 August 2009


National Day of Action for Same Sex Marriage – time to act for human
rights for all


Greens MP and gay and lesbian spokesperson Lee Rhiannon has called on
Premier Nathan Rees to  take his stand with public opinion and speak
out in favour of legalising same-sex marriage.

Ms Rhiannon will today speak at the Sydney rally of the National Day
of Action for Same-Sex Marriage.

A recent Galaxy Poll found 60 per cent of Australians support same-sex
couples right to marry.

“Premier Rees should break ranks with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and
Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard who back the discriminatory policy
that marriage only covers the union of a man and a woman.

"A large whack of NSW voters would applaud Nathan Rees if he stood up
to the PM and called for marriage rights to be extended to gay and
lesbians.

“Mr Rudd and Ms Gillard's decision to shut the door on legalising
same-sex marriages shows their inability to break with old Labor.

“Now the heat is on Premier Rees.

"The NSW government has consistently ducked the issue of gay marriage,
dodging this and other progressive proposals like legalising same-sex
adoption.

"Nathan Rees should seize this opportunity to call for same-sex
marriage and start building a progressive agenda for his party.

“Earlier this month Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young introduced the
Marriage Equality Amendment Bill to legislate for marriage rights for
same-sex couples.

“With Labor under increasing pressure to change its backward policy
Senator Hanson-Young’s Bill provides a way forward for on this
critical human rights issue.

“This Bill is currently before a federal parliamentary committee and
submissions are now being accepted,” Ms Rhiannon said.


For more information: Lee Rhiannon 0427 861 568.