On Tuesday night Prime Minister Julia Gillard is set to dine with several gay couples who will speak with her about marriage equality. The couples were invited by lobby group Get Up, who successful bid for the opportunity to have dinner with the PM at last year’s Mid Winter Press Gallery Ball.
Initially the dinner was supposed to occur within 11 to 16 days but it has taken the Prime Minister several months to schedule the event. Three gay couples will meet with the Prime Minister, John and Steve from Victoria, Sandy and Lou from NSW, and Sharon and Elaine from Queensland.
Alex Greenwich from Australian Marriage Equality has also been invited to the dinner. Last year Greenwich spoke to OUTinPerth and said he was really excited about putting this issue in front of the PM.
Earlier this week two private members bills for marriage equality were introduced as parliament resumed. Labor backbencher Stephen Jones presented one bill to legalise gay marriage while the Green Adam Bandt and independent Andrew Wilkie presented a second bill.
Last year the Labor party changed its stance on same sex marriage at its national conference, the Prime Minister however has stated that she believe marriage should be only be between a man and a woman and has declared that Labor’s members will be allowed a conscience vote on the issue. Opposition leader Tony Abbot has indicated that Liberal members will be denied a conscience vote and be forced to follow party lines.
OIP Staff
Further Reading
9 FEB 2011 Marriage Equality for Public Comment
3 DEC 2011 Labor Supports Gay Marriage
15 JUN 2011 Gays Win Dinner with PM
