Equal Love is an Australian-wide campaign initiated by the Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby in an attempt to win gay and lesbian couples marriage rights in the country.About Equal Love. Accessed 27 January 2010. The campaign involves a range of community, union, student and activist organisationsSupporters Equal Love. Accessed 27 January 2010. whose aim is to influence public and government attitudes towards LGBTQ couples through education and direct action.Equal Love Same Sex Marriage Rally The Australian Greens. Accessed 16 November 2010.
History The campaign began in 2004 in response to the Marriage Amendment Bill, introduced by the John Howard government which was passed by the Australian House of RepresentativesSame-sex couples demand right to marry The Age, 19 July 2009. Accessed 27 January 2010. in June of that year, which stated that a same-sex union "must not be recognised as a marriage in Australia".Australia: Marriage Act 1961 Same-Sex Unions in the Conflict of Laws. Accessed 27 January 2010. In 2009, an Equal Love spokesperson claimed that "60% of Australians support equal same-sex marriage rights and the introduction of the gender neutral bill. Equal marriage rights are becoming a significant and central human rights issue."Equal love: same-sex marriage rights now Green Left Weekly, Issue 804, 26 July 2009. Accessed 27 January 2010. In 2010, tens of thousands of Australians participated in Equal Love demonstrations for same-sex marriage.Equal love and free speech under attack The Age. 23 July 2010. Accessed 16 November 2010.
Equal Love has had the support of Amnesty International, the Australian Greens and other notable individuals such as Victorian Labor Party Minister for Education Bronwyn Pike, The Lord of the Rings star Ian McKellen and Australian Idol finalist Rob Mills.Big Names Support Equal Love Same Same. Accessed 27 January 2010.Gay marriage would win respect, says McKellan News.com.au. Accessed 19 May 2010.
In lobbying for same-sex marriage, the two organisations Equal Love and Community Action Against Homophobia share similar objectives.
Notable achievements
In 2010, Equal Love won an ALSO Foundation award in the category of "Most Outstanding Community Campaign or Initiative" in the Australian LGBT community. The ALSO Foundation is Victoria's largest not-for-profit LGBT community organisation.Are we there yet? Key collaborations on the pathway to quality services for GLBT seniors in Victoria The ALSO Foundation, November 2006. Accessed 21 February 2011. Equal Love's Convener, Ali Hogg, won an ALSO award the same year as the "Most Outstanding Volunteer" for her work in the campaign.The {also} Awards 2010 Winners The ALSO Foundation. Accessed 1 July 2010. In 2011, Hogg was recognised in the "Absolut People's Choice" award as the country's most influential LGBT person for her work in Equal Love, as part of Same Same's "25 Most Influential LGBTI Australians".Here she is – your Absolut choice! Same Same, 10 February 2011. Accessed 21 February 2011. Equal Love were critical of former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard's position on same-sex marriage voting against the party policy change and against it becoming a binding vote and allowing members a conscience vote.
In 2016 Equal Love and Australian Marriage Equality led the pride parade in St Kilda Victoria; this was the first time both groups had united to demand same-sex marriage. Equal Love criticises Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull with Wallace saying "he’s done us a lot of damage because he’s taken a vote off the table and said the way forward is a plebiscite".
Criticism Melbourne is the countries largest Equal Love movement but each state and territory manage their own activisms. The Brisbane campaign group has been criticised from within its own ranks, as well as by the wider LGBT community. The criticism has included concern about the close links Equal Love has to both the Socialist Alternative and the Socialist Alliance. The incorporation of other protest-issues within Equal Love rallies, as well as the "offensive" signs, the tee-shirt "profanity", along with the militancy of Equal Love participants have all raised concerns. Equal Love works with other Australian LGBTIQ groups including the Community Action Against Homophobia. Rodney Croome, national convener of Australian Marriage Equality, has expressed concerns about radical campaigning methods, saying "It is also a double standard to demand respect for same-sex relationships without showing the same respect in return".
National supporters
Amnesty International Australian Democrats Australian Coalition for Equality Australian Education Union Australian Greens Australian Marriage Equality Australian Services Union Comeout Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union of Australia Community and Public Sector Union Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations Democratic Socialist Perspective Finance Sector Union
Freedom Socialist Party Gaydar Green Left Weekly Human Rights Council of Australia Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union National Tertiary Education Union National Union of Students Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays Rainbow Labor Same Same Socialist Alliance Socialist Alternative Young Australian Democrats
Rallies 2010 Australian gender equality rallies
See also
LGBT rights in Australia List of LGBT rights organisations
References
External links Equal Love