National marriage equality postcard campaign …

… MARKS 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF GAY DECRIMINALISATION

A new postcard campaign will be launched 12.30pm today at Salamanca Place, Hobart, to mark 20 years since Tasmania became the final place in Australia to decriminalise homosexuality.

The card, addressed to Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, features an illustration by Tasmanian cartoonist, Christopher Downes declaring “The sky didn’t fall in then and it won’t now”.

The card also highlights that decriminalisation in Tasmania was finally achieved after the then Liberal State Government was given a free vote by Premier, Tony Rundle, and calls on Mr Turnbull to allow a free vote for Federal Liberals so marriage equality can pass.

Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said,

“Our new postcard campaign celebrates how far we’ve come since gay men were criminals, but also how far we have to go to ensure full equality for LGBTI people by passing marriage equality.”

“The postcard highlights two key lessons the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Tasmania holds for the current marriage equality debate: gay law reform shouldn’t be a party-political issue and when reform passes the sky won’t fall in.”

If the Federal Liberal Party were to allow its members a free vote on marriage equality the reform would quickly pass. Meanwhile, opponents of marriage equality object to marriage equality on the basis of what they call a “slippery slope” of “unintended consequences”.

The postcard, produced with generous support from Australian company, Avant Card, will be available in hundreds of cafes and other venues across Australia from this week on.

Postcard creator, Richard Hale, asked marriage equality supporters to take a photo of the card against the sky and to post the photo to social media with the hashtag #TheSkyWontFallMalcolm, before posting the card through conventional post to the Prime Minister.

“To show the sky hasn’t fallen in, we’re urging marriage equality supporters to take a photo of the postcard against the sky and post it to social media with the hashtag #TheSkyWontFallMalcolm.”

“This will be a great way to highlight the fact that equality is good for everyone and has no downside.’

Christopher Downes said he pleased to be able to make this contribution to the marriage equality debate.

“My marriage enriches my life more than I can say and I want my gay family members and friends to also have the opportunity to marry the person they love.”

Two weeks ago Tasmanian Premier, Will Hodgman, became the first Liberal leader to apologise to those people convicted under former former anti-gay laws. Tasmania’s state Liberal MPs have had a free vote on all LGBTI issues, including marriage equality, since decriminalisation.

Postcard text is included below. The postcard illustration is attached. A larger version is available by calling any of the numbers below.

For more information contact Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668, Richard Hales on 0447 225 682 or Christopher Downes on 0499 275 453.

Dear Prime Minister,

Please celebrate the 20th anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Australia by passing marriage equality.
On 1st May 1997, Tasmania became the last Australian state to remove laws that criminalised male-to-male relationships.

A Liberal Party free vote allowed homosexuality to be decriminalised in Tasmania.

Please allow a Federal Liberal free vote so marriage equality can pass now.

Opponents of decriminalisation in Tasmania predicted that the sky would fall in, just as opponents of marriage equality are predicting it will fall in if same-sex couples are allowed to marry.

The sky didn’t fall in then, and it won’t fall in now.

Please pass marriage equality.
Rodney Croome, justequal