Equal Love
Formation2004
TypeSame-sex marriage campaign
Location
Convenor
Ali Hogg
Websiteequallove.info

Equal Love is an Australian-wide campaign initiated by the Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby in an attempt to win gay and lesbian couples marriage rights in the country.[1] The campaign involves a range of community, union, student and activist organisations[2] whose aim is to influence public and government attitudes towards LGBT couples through education and direct action.[3]

History

The campaign began in 2004[1] in response to the Marriage Amendment Bill, introduced by the John Howard government which was passed by the Australian House of Representatives[4] in June of that year, which stated that a same-sex union "must not be recognised as a marriage in Australia".[5] In 2009, an Equal Love spokesperson claimed that "60% of Australians support equal same-sex marriage rights and the introduction of the gender neutral bill. Equal marriage rights are becoming a significant and central human rights issue."[6] In 2010, tens of thousands of Australians participated in Equal Love demonstrations for same-sex marriage.[7]

Equal Love has had the support of Amnesty International, the Australian Greens and other notable individuals such as Victorian Labor Party Minister for Education Bronwyn Pike, The Lord of the Rings star Ian McKellen and Australian Idol finalist Rob Mills.[8][9]

In lobbying for same-sex marriage, the two organisations Equal Love and Community Action Against Homophobia share similar objectives.[10]

Notable achievements

Equal Love convenor Ali Hogg at the August 2011 rally in Melbourne
Equal Love campaign co-ordinator Anthony Wallace with Australian actor Magda Szubanski

In 2010, Equal Love won an ALSO Foundation award in the category of "Most Significant Activist of the Year" in the Australian LGBT community. The ALSO Foundation is Victoria's largest not-for-profit LGBT community organisation.[11] Equal Love's Convener, Ali Hogg, won an ALSO award the same year as the "Most Outstanding Volunteer" for her work in the campaign.[12] In 2011, Hogg was recognised in the "Absolut People's Choice" award as the country's most influential LGBT person for her work in Equal Love, as part of Same Same's "25 Most Influential LGBTI Australians".[13] Equal Love were critical of former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard's position on same-sex marriage voting against the party policy change and against it becoming a binding vote and allowing members a conscience vote.[14]

In 2016 Equal Love and Australian Marriage Equality led the pride parade in St Kilda Victoria; this was the first time both groups had united to demand same-sex marriage.[15] Equal Love criticises Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull with Wallace saying "he’s done us a lot of damage because he’s taken a vote off the table and said the way forward is a plebiscite".

Criticism

Melbourne is the countries largest Equal Love movement but each state and territory manage their own activisms. The Brisbane campaign group has been criticised from within its own ranks, as well as by the wider LGBT community.[16] The criticism has included concern about the close links Equal Love has to both the Socialist Alternative and the Socialist Alliance. The incorporation of other protest-issues within Equal Love rallies, as well as the "offensive" signs, the tee-shirt "profanity", along with the militancy of Equal Love participants have all raised concerns.[17][18] Equal Love works with other Australian LGBTIQ groups including the Community Action Against Homophobia.[19] Rodney Croome, national convener of Australian Marriage Equality, has expressed concerns about radical campaigning methods, saying "It is also a double standard to demand respect for same-sex relationships without showing the same respect in return".[20]

National supporters

Rallies

See also

References

  1. 1 2 About Archived 16 March 2010 at the Wayback Machine Equal Love. Accessed 27 January 2010.
  2. ↑ Supporters Archived 30 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine Equal Love. Accessed 27 January 2010.
  3. ↑ Equal Love Same Sex Marriage Rally The Australian Greens. Accessed 16 November 2010. Archived 24 July 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ↑ Same-sex couples demand right to marry The Age, 19 July 2009. Accessed 27 January 2010.
  5. ↑ Australia: Marriage Act 1961 Same-Sex Unions in the Conflict of Laws. Accessed 27 January 2010. Archived 15 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ↑ Equal love: same-sex marriage rights now Green Left Weekly, Issue 804, 26 July 2009. Accessed 27 January 2010. Archived 30 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ↑ Equal love and free speech under attack The Age. 23 July 2010. Accessed 16 November 2010.
  8. ↑ Big Names Support Equal Love Archived 29 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine Same Same. Accessed 27 January 2010.
  9. ↑ Gay marriage would win respect, says McKellan News.com.au. Accessed 19 May 2010.
  10. ↑ Magnusson, Michael (15 January 2014). "Equal Love's 'Year of action' for Marriage Amendment Act anniversary". Gay News Network. Archived from the original on 6 June 2014. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  11. ↑ Are we there yet? Key collaborations on the pathway to quality services for GLBT seniors in Victoria The ALSO Foundation, November 2006. Accessed 21 February 2011.
  12. ↑ The {also} Awards 2010 Winners The ALSO Foundation. Accessed 1 July 2010. Archived 2 March 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ↑ Here she is – your Absolut choice! Archived 13 February 2011 at the Wayback Machine Same Same, 10 February 2011. Accessed 21 February 2011.
  14. ↑ "Labor decides on conscience vote for gay marriage". ABC News. 3 December 2011. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  15. ↑ "Equal Love and Australian Marriage Equality to lead Melbourne's Pride March". Star Observer. 21 January 2016. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  16. ↑ Alexander, David (19 May 2014). "Brisbane IDAHOT rally marred by incident involving police". Star Observer. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  17. ↑ Watson, Graeme (28 November 2013). "Will Radicals Set Back the Marriage Equality Movement?". OUTinperth. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  18. ↑ Alexander, David (6 December 2013). "Equal love banner attracts unwanted attention". Star Observer. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  19. ↑ Magnusson, Michael (15 January 2014). "Equal love's year of action for marriage amendment act anniversary". Gay News Network. Archived from the original on 21 July 2015. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
  20. ↑ "Letter to protesters: Withdraw this hateful poster now". 15 September 2013. Archived from the original on 3 October 2015. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
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