Yesterday’s same-sex marriage campaign in Canberra was a ‘wonderful success’, according to Gay and Lesbian Equality WA.
GALE WA convenor Kitty Hawkins (pictured) said the small group from Western Australia made an ‘impression’ on federal MPs and that the trip to Canberra was ‘well received’.
The WA group met with Liberal Deputy Opposition leader Julie Bishop, Labor Defence Minister Stephen Smith and Liberal MP Ken Wyatt. Then at the last minute this morning, Hawkins said the group also met with Special Minister of State Gary Gray.
‘It was actually astonishing at how many people were there,’ she said.
About 60 delegates from around Australia converged on Canberra yesterday to share their stories about how the marriage ban affected their lives. Lesbian mums Kelly and Sam Pilgrim-Byrnes and a retired doctor were among the WA team to represent the state.
‘In all the meetings we had, they [MPs] were very considerate and they were very sympathetic,’ she said.
‘It’s one thing to say an individual politician would support an initiative like same-sex marriage, it’s quite another [thing] to say that they’ll come out and say that publicly.’
Hawkins said her one concern now was that the momentum for same-sex marriage was kept up until the ALP National Conference in December.
‘All in all, it was a wonderful success,’ she said.
‘My one concern is that the momentum is kept up, so much work and effort have gone into this one lobbying initiative, getting everyone to Canberra at the same time.
‘I really hope that energy and that tenacity can really continue over the next few months.
‘We have 50 days now until the ALP National Conference, give or take.
‘We have to use those as well as we can.’
Benn Dorrington
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