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)