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Pic: Michael Dempsey

In Hobart today a rally of 300 marriage equality supporters heard the case for a free vote and against a plebiscite on the issue.

Speakers emphasised how divisive, harmful and expensive a plebiscite would be and highlighted the fact Parliament could pass the reform tomorrow if a free vote was allowed.

Speakers included Anti-Discrimination Commissioner, Robin Banks, psychologist, Tim Sanderson, Executive Director of Working It Out, Susan Ditter and LGBTI equality advocate, Rodney Croome.

A late inclusion was Professor Lawrence Hemming who married his husband in Florida after the US Supreme Court ruling allowed marriage equality across the United States last year.

Professor Hemming reminded rally-goers that “the only thing that happens when equal marriage is passed is that couples can marry. The sky has not fallen in overseas and it won’t in Australia.”

Rally-goers cheered loudly when Mr Croome thanked the Tasmanian Upper House for passing a marriage equality motion earlier this week.

“Our Legislative Council didn’t need a plebiscite to endorse marriage equality.”

“It has taught Federal Parliament a timely lesson in how to deal with marriage equality in a dignified way by simply debating the issue and then allowing a free vote.”

Ms Banks also raised a cheer when she spoke against suspending state and federal anti-discrimination laws during a plebiscite.

“We wouldn’t think of suspending defamation laws during elections, so we should not suspend essential discrimination protections during a plebiscite”, she said.

Mr Sanderson and Ms Ditter both spoke about the harm to vulnerable LGBTI people hate campaigns will cause in the lead up to a plebiscite, referring to overseas research and local examples showing the damage to mental health caused by hate speech.

Rally MC, Martine Delaney, took on the role of Speaker of the House, inviting four people representing the Coalition, Labor, the Greens and Independents to vote and pass marriage equality to show Federal Parliament how easy it is.

At the end of the rally, hundreds of rally-goers simultaneously tweeted Tasmanian independent Senator Jacquie Lambie asking her to vote for marriage equality and against a a plebiscite.

Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesperson, Jen Van-Achteren, said the rally was a great success and expressed the hope it will be the last.

“We call on our leaders to drop the expensive, divisive and harmful plebiscite and have a free vote instead so marriage equality can pass as soon as possible and the nation can move on”, she said.

The rally commemorated the 12th anniversary of the passage of the Howard Government’s ban on same-sex marriages on August 13th, 2004.
LGBTI equality advocate, Rodney Croome