2009 National Day of Action (NDA)
"So you think you can marry? Danny does!"
Australian Marriage Equality - PRESS RELEASE – July 27, 2009
The National Day of Action (NDA) organisers are pleased to announce that Danny Golding, of 'So You Think You Can Dance' will be participating in the National Day of Action for Same-Sex marriage, August 1, starting at 12 noon at Sydney Town Hall.
Danny was in the top 20 in the latest season of the popular channel 10 show. He will be joining other celebrities like singer Rob Mills and actor Matt Young on this important national day of protest.
Alex Greenwich from Australian Marriage Equality is excited Danny will be taking part "In the USA celebrities have made a big impact on the fight for same-sex marriage, it's great that this trend is growing in Australia, and we are grateful for Danny's participation and the attention this will bring to marriage equality on NDA"
For further information please contact Alex Greenwich of Australian Marriage Equality on 0421316335
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Gay activist Veterans Join August 1st Action
PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - July 20, 2009
Veteran gay rights campaigners and 78'ers Mannie De Saxe and Kendall Lovett will join the Sydney demonstration on August 1st.
De Saxe and Lovett, who also founded the SPAIDS planting at the Sydney Park AIDS Memorial Grove and Gay and Lesbian Solidarity, have come to Sydney to send a clear message to the Rudd Labor government.
De Saxe stated:
‘Our main reason for wanting to have same-sex marriages legalised is because partial equality is not equality, and until we get same-sex marriage legalised we will still be discriminated against. We are participating because we want to show what a mockery this government's same-sex legislation is and how it perpetuates sexual apartheid in Australia.’ Read more
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Hitching to get married
SSO Soap Box - Phil Scott - Tuesday, 21 July 2009
‘almost but not quite’ pseudo-equivalent."
On August 1 my partner and I will be milling, loitering and woolgathering for same-sex marriage. It’s not that we wish to get married; at least I don’t think so. Acting like an old married couple, we haven’t discussed it. But we want you to get hitched, if that’s what you’d like.
And we want the Labor Party Conference to be aware of our opinion.
Some people believe same-sex marriage (yes, that specific term) should be the final thing gays and lesbians achieve for full equality. The last frontier! I think that’s the wrong way around. Once we have the right to marry, other related areas of inequality will disappear. Let’s go for the big one now and let the fiddly details sort themselves out later. Read more
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Ex-Idol star Rob Mills joins fight for same-sex marriage
Equal Love - MEDIA RELEASE - 14 July 2009
MELBOURNE — Former Australian Idol finalist, star of the musical Wicked, and current contestant on Dancing with the Stars, Rob Mills, has joined the fight for same-sex marriage rights in Australia.
“Stand up for your love rights,” Mills urges listeners to Melbourne’s gay and lesbian radio station JOY 94.9 in an ad campaign organised by Equal Love, one of the members of a national coalition of 50 organisations fighting for same-sex marriage.
“I believe in equal love for all, which is why I urge you all to attend the National Day of Action rally on August 1st from 1pm at Federation Square” says Mills.
He also calls on same-sex couples to go along and take part in a world-record attempt at the “largest mass illegal wedding ever”, as part of the August 1 event. Read more
ACTOR GETS SET TO PROTEST ON AUGUST 1
PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - July 13, 2009
ABC Tele series actor Matt Young and his partner will join thousands
Around Australia for the National Day of Action for Same Sex Marriage on Saturday August 1st.
Matt will participate in the Sydney rally and march, starting at Town Hall at 12pm.
Matt was asked. Why do you support the right of same sex couples to marry and why will you be marching?
“We have two kids. Our children deserve the same respect as the children of any opposite sex couples that we know. We deserve to be allowed to be married. Let our children see their two dads wed.”
Ben Cooper, co-convenor of Community Action Against Homophobia stated “People such as Matt joining us on the day brings a face to the fight for same sex marriage equality. People such as Matt show the Labor government just how out of step they are with the majority of Australians”
PM faces stoush over gay marriage
Rodney Croome ... civil unions "second-best".
SMH - July 14, 2009
THE Rudd Government is facing a concerted push from within to extend to gay couples the right to marry or at least have access to a nationally recognised system of civil unions.
The effort to amend Labor's platform at the party's national conference this month is looming as one of the more significant policy showdowns that party officials are anticipating.
Rainbow Labor, a cross-factional organisation of gay, grassroots ALP members, has been working behind the scenes on proposed policy changes, despite a stated refusal by the Government to consider change.
The three-day conference concludes on August 1, which is also the national day of action for same-sex marriage. Rallies will be held in capital cities across the nation and a large demonstration is being planned for outside the Darling Harbour conference venue. Read more
Sydney NDA • Same-Sex Marriage Rights • NOW!
On August 13, 2004, same-sex marriage was banned in Australia. This made Australia the only first world industrialised nation to have banned same-sex marriage.
Both the Liberal government and federal Labor governments passed the ban on same-sex marriage in 2004, and in 2006 went further by banning civil unions in the Australian Capital Territory.
As a result, homosexuals are considered second-class citizens in Australia. These federal laws discriminating on the basis of sexual preference are a disgrace.
CAAH has led the fight against the ban on marriage and civil unions. In particular, we have helped cohere a National Day of Action (NDA) around August 13th every year to call for a repeal of the ban, and for marriage and civil union rights for same-sex couples.
Read more
Sydney National Day of Action for Same-Sex Marriage
Saturday 1st August, 2009 • 12pm • Town Hall
This year we plan to gather at Town Hall at 12pm then march to the National Labor Conference, being held at the Sydney Convention Centre, Darling Harbour - where alongside our Melbourne brothers and sisters, we will stage the nation's largest 'illegal' same-sex wedding!
Chances are your relationships won't be formally recognised on the day, and you'll still be considered a second-class citizen long after you've consumated your marriage... so, what the hell... grab your partner, shine your ring, and invite your friends - we're getting hitched!
Stay tuned...
YouTube Messages of Support
Hey,
My boyfriend and I have created a video in support of the National Day of Action for Same-Sex marriage, I totally support you guys in what you do...
MY BIG FAT GAY WEDDING
The Same-Sex Marriage Campaign is calling on Same-Sex couples to participate in the biggest ever “Illegal” Same-Sex Wedding. A mass Same-Sex wedding demonstration will be held as part of the National Day of Action (NDA) for Same-Sex Marriage in Sydney on Saturday August 1st.
Pastor Karl Hand from Crave MCC will be officiating over the ceremony and stated that: “The so called progressive governments in America and Australia have been really slow in recognising the equality of queer people. And have stalled on so many of the promises that they have made. It’s time for queer people to stand up and take their future into their own hands.” Read entire Press Release
This year the National Day of Action (NDA) will be held on August 1st, and will see events being staged in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Adelaide, Hobart, Perth and Lismore, with other cities to be confirmed.
SydneyCentral CAAH plans to organise a rally and march in Sydney - and we'd love for you to get involved.
A brief organising meeting will be held at 6.30pm on July 22
at UTS Queer Space, levl 3, Tower Building...
Start spreading the word of the Sydney NDA.
For further information, please contact:
Emilia L. 0401 519 593 or Ben Cooper 0412 325 231
Sydney NDA - National Day of Protest
for Equal Same Sex Marriage Rights
Download NDA Flyers and Posters to distribute...
Marriage and Civil Unions
Same-sex Marriage inquiry
The Rudd Government has announced a Senate Inquiry into same-sex marriage.
The inquiry follows the tabling of a private members bill by Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young.
Hanson-Young introduced the Marriage Equality Amendment Bill 2009 which, if passed, would grant same-sex couples equal marriage rights and recognise unions entered into abroad.
In 2004, the ALP joined the Howard government to legislate against same-sex marriage. PM Kevin Rudd ruled out its introduction since being elected.
Although a closing date for the inquiry is yet to be announced, the
government is calling from submissions in preparation for a November 26 report. Read more
hello
Sydney NDA Speakers
hello
Lee Rhiannon
Greens Parliamentarian
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Clover Moore, MP
Sydney City Lord Mayor
In 2004 Clover became the first popularly elected female Lord Mayor of Sydney, and in 2008 was re-elected with an increased majority. Clover has also been an Independent Member of the NSW Parliament since 1988.
Clover has an extensive record of activism on public accountability and open government policies, and on social issues such as homelessness, drug and alcohol services, and GLBT rights.
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Matthew Loader
Rainbow Labor
Matthew is a well-known national gay rights activist, involved in the South Australian based Let's Get Equal Campaign and nationally through the Equal Rights Network and Rainbow Labor.
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Rachel Evans
Community Action Against Homophobia
Rachel has been a leading activist in the Sydney LGBTI community for more than 15 years, and has played a vital and prominent part in the fight for Same Sex Marriage rights in Australia.
Rachel is best known for her success with the NOTOPOPE week of protests and taking the NSW government to court for its draconian annoyance laws.
Rachel was also a founder of Community Action Against
Homophobia.
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norrie mAy-welby
Activist and Entertainer
norrie has been a long time advocate for the rights of all people to be free from unfair discrimination based on diversity of sex or gender, including intersex and transgender people.
"Whether one wants to get married or have kids or adopt children should be a matter of personal choice, not social discrimination. That said, kissing boys was illegal when I was a lad, so state approval and personal integrity are clearly separate."
norrie is a hippy tranny who lives on the Block in Redfern with 'Love' in lights on the balcony, draws the monthly cartoon for the South Sydney Herald, and often adds a bit of colour and movement at social justice demos and undergound parties.
Email: spansexual1@gmail.com
Facebook
MySpace
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Karl Hand
Wedding Celebrant - Sydney Crave MCC Pastor
Karl is the pastor of CRAVE Metropolitan Community Church, a dynamic, inclusive and progressive church
which seeks to draw together authentic, passionate disciples of Jesus, progressive social and theological beliefs, and people of diverse race, gender and sexual identity - to build community and change the face of our society.
Karl has been involved in the National Day of Action since its inception, and hopes it will be a key to challenging not only Rudd's paternalistic policies towards queer people - but also the decadence and shallowness of profit-driven GLBT culture: the 'scene', and the increasingly corporate Mardi-Gras parade.
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Heidi Claus
NUS Queer Officer
Heidi has been the Female Queer officer for the National Union of Students since 2004, and is a well respected activist who has been involved in a range of social justice campaigns including LGBTI rights since the mid 90's.
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Katrina Fox
Freelance Journalist, Actor and Performer - MC for Sydney NDA
Katrina is a Sydney Based freelance Journalist who has written for a range of publications in the UK, USA and Australia, including SX and the Sydney Morning Herald.
Originally from the UK Katrina has more than 12 years experience in the Journalism industry, has played a number of acting roles and is a well known face in the Australian LGBTI community.
Website: www.katrinafox.com
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Matt Young
Actor and Proud 'husband' and father of 2 kids
Matt and his partner will participate in the Sydney rally a march.
“We have two kids. Our children deserve the same respect as the children of any opposite sex couples that we know. We deserve to be allowed to be married. Let our children see their two dads wed.”
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Marcel Leneham
Sign Language Interpreter
Marcel is the lead translator for 'SignPost' and coordinates the fantastic team of deaf and hearing volunteers who translate each episode from Auslan into English. Outside of 'SignPost', Marcel is on the National Executive of the Australian Sign Language Interpreters' Association (ASLIA).
Marcel is also a PhD candidate researching sign language translation and a casual lecturer in the Postgraduate Diploma of Auslan/English Interpreting at Macquarie University, in Sydney.
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Karen Brown
Order of Australia Recipient - Welcome to Country
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Alex Greenwich
Australian Marriage Equality Spokesperson
Danny Golding
'So You Think You Can Dance' Finalist
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