SUPPORTERS OF MARRIAGE EQUALITY HOLD VIGIL TO COINCIDE WITH ANTI-EQUALITY MEETING

TASMANIAN UNIVERSITY UNION / TASMANIAN GAY AND LESBIAN RIGHTS GROUP

Media Release
Wednesday 1st of June, 2011

SUPPORTERS OF MARRIAGE EQUALITY TO HOLD VIGIL TO COINCIDE WITH ANTI-EQUALITY MEETING

What: to show the human face of marriage equality to those who oppose reform
Where: Sir Raymond Farrell Centre Lecture Theatre, UTAS Launceston Newnham Campus
When: from 6.30pm, Wednesday 1st June 2011

The Tasmanian University Union in partnership with the Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group has invited supporters of marriage equality to a attend a peaceful vigil in Launceston this evening.

The Vigil starts at 6.30pm and will be held outside a meeting against marriage equality convened by the Tasmanian Branch of the Australian Christian Lobby at the Raymond Farrell Lecture Theatre at the University of Tasmania in Launceston. The anti-equality meeting begins at 7.30pm.

Tasmanian University Union President, Saleh Bintalib, said the vigil will show the human face of marriage equality by featuring photos of same-sex couples who wish to marry.

“It is important that this legislated discrimination comes to an end, particularly when a majority of Australians support reform. Pictures of same-sex couples who wish to wed will be shown, so that those attending can see who they are discriminating against,” Mr Bintaleb said.

Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesperson Rodney Croome said marriage equality is about real people.

“This is not about abstract ideas or politics, it’s about real couples and their families who are disadvantaged by our discriminatory marriage laws and who deserve the same legal recognition as everyone else”, Mr Croome said.

The photos all come from the Potential Wedding Album (www.thepotentialweddingalbum.org).

The TUU and TGLRG said it is important that those attending the Vigil do so in the understanding that it is a peaceful and dignified gathering.
Rodney Croome Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group