Gays and their
allies protest for marriage equality in Australia

Thousands of demonstrators gathered in towns and cities across Australia on Sunday to demand marriage equality for gays and lesbians, the Australian Associated Press reports. The National Day of Action commemorated the 2004 ban on same-sex marriage, passed federally with bipartisan support.

About 1,000 people attended a rally in Sydney, with hundreds more gathering in the Blue Mountains. Equal Love Rights organizer John Kloprogge said it was time for the government to move forward. "Formal relationship recognition is essential to achieve social equality and legal security for loving same-sex couples and their families," he told AAP from Melbourne, which had a record turnout of more than 1,500.

Perth organizer Rod Swift said about 300 people attended a rally in that city. "It was a record turnout despite the rain," he said, adding that he hoped the protest sent a message to federal and state governments to move forward on equality for same-sex couples. "Prime Minister John Howard continually says he does not believe that discrimination should exist for same-sex couples, but his actions in the past two years have only caused same-sex couples more inequality and discrimination." (The Advocate)