If you have questions about the marriage equality debate or are unsure how to lobby your local MP, marriage equality advocates will be in Perth this weekend to answer your questions.
National PFLAG spokesperson Shelley Argent; gay law reform campaigner Rodney Croome and ‘Beyond That’s So Gay’ author Daniel Witthaus will be presenting a workshop at the Northbridge Piazza Function centre on Saturday June 25.
The Australian Marriage Equality (AME) initiative plans to equip community members with the confidence and know-how to campaign for same-sex marriage. AME spokesperson Alex Greenwich told OUTinPerth it was a key time for supporters to be campaigning the Labor Party ahead of its state and national conference.
‘The workshops are all about empowering people to both share their stories and also to share their stories with MPs, politicians and union policy influencers,’ he said.
‘So basically we give people confidence and we also educate them in all the facts, figures and issues surrounding the marriage equality debate.’
The WA branch of the Labor Party will be holding its state conference later this week where it is understood that a motion of support for same-sex marriage will be voted on. Last weekend the Queensland branch voted for the motion, joining the growing list of ALP state parties and factions in support of amending the current Marriage Act.
Greenwich said AME would be increasing their lobbying of the Labor Party with the National Conference due at the end of the year.
‘We definitely do plan to ramp things up and to do that, we need people to continue community support,’ he said.
Following the day-long workshop, there will be a Q&A forum hosted by Greens MLC Lynn MacLaren at the Loft at Little Creatures Brewery. Guest speakers include former Pride Patron Suzanne Covich, Former Democrat Senator Brian Greig OAM, Rodney Croome, Shelley Argent and Daniel Witthaus.
The workshop starts at 9.30am Saturday at the Northbridge Piazza Function Centre. For more information, click here. To RSVP, email workshops@australianmarriageequality.com.
The Q&A Forum runs from 4.30pm till 6.30pm on Saturday at the Loft in Little Creatures Brewery, Fremantle. For more information, click here.
Benn Dorrington
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