Tag: Australia

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Video: Australian Gay Rights

JMG points to this compilation of news, pop culture and political moments in Australia’s journey for gay rights.

I remember traveling in a car with Olivia Newton-John (can you believe???) in Australia last year as she was personally writing a statement on marriage equality as the topic was again at the top of the news.

At the time she released this statement: “With respect to marriage equality, I believe that no-one has the right to judge and deny couples who love each other the ability to make a marriage commitment. Love is love.”

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Live Dance Party – Dance (RED) from Australia

JoeMyGod tips us to this massive outdoor World AIDS Day fundraiser dance party DANCE (RED), SAVE LIVES streaming live from Melbourne, Australia.

Watch the livestream of Tiësto and some of the biggest names in dance music from Stereosonic, Australia’s biggest dance music festival.

Hit the link and dance, kids.  Celebrate life.

(RED) proceeds go to vital work on the ground in Africa to fight HIV/AIDS.

How can you help?  One way – do some Christmas shopping with (RED) partners.   Money goes to help folks who need it, you get your holiday shopping done.

Click here to shop now.

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Australia upholds gay marriage ban by wide margin

Australian lawmakers have overwhelmingly rejected a bill that would have legalized gay marriage.

The House of Representatives voted 98-42 against the legislation on Wednesday. It was the first of four bills introduced to Parliament that aim to lift the country’s ban on same-sex marriages.

A separate bill was also being debated in the Senate on Wednesday.

Polls show that most Australians support gay marriage. But the Liberal Party-led conservative opposition coalition and many in the ruling center-left Labor Party are against it.

Australian law defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman. Labor lifted its long-standing opposition to gay marriage last year, but Prime Minister Julia Gillard remains opposed to it.

(source)

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Australia: No To Homophobia campaign endorsed by Australian Football League rugby code

From the YouTube page: In an Australian-first, a new public campaign will combine TV ads, social media, online support resources and moving personal stories from people who have experienced harassment to challenge every single member of the community to say no to homophobia, transphobia and biphobia.

Two television ads, to be broadcast nationally over the next year, depict the most common everyday situations where people face harassment — at school, in sports, at work and in public spaces like cafes and on the street. They show people experiencing harassment and witnesses taking action to put a stop to the offensive behaviour. TV ads focusing on homophobic harassment have never been shown in Australia.

An online resource at www.notohomophobia.com.au helps people get informed, find support and take action by hosting all the relevant information, resources and contacts in one place.

(h/t JoeMyGod)

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Australia: Marriage equality in South Australia?

South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill

Following last week’s announcement by Tasmania that would introduce legislation legalizing gay marriage,  South Australia’s premier has signed on as well:

South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill told a rally in Adelaide he would legislate for gay marriage at a state level.

On the steps of Parliament House, Mr Weatherill said he would support a Greens bill and allow Labor MPs a conscience vote.

“People should be entitled to express their own identity in any way they wish and the law shouldn’t become a barrier to prevent them from doing that,” he said.”So, from my perspective, it’s a simple question of the dignity of the individual. People should be entitled to express their identity in any way they wish and the law shouldn’t get in the way.”

Forward, kids. Keep moving forward.

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New marriage equality ad from Australia

Love this new ad from Australian Marriage Equality. Real people talking about how marriage creates community and family. “To be absolutely equal to every other person in this country.”

According to a new poll released on Monday nearly two-thirds of Australians support marriage equality:

The Galaxy poll shows 64 per cent of people believe same-sex couples should be allowed to marry – up two percentage points from February. But only 58 per cent of men back changing the law compared with 70 per cent of women. The poll was commissioned by lobby group Australian Marriage Equality.

“Support for marriage equality has risen to its highest point ever because Australians are increasingly realising that marriage equality will strengthen relationships, families and marriage,” spokesman Alex Greenwich said in a statement.

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Kylie Minogue: Mardi Gras and Marriage Equality

During her appearance at Australia’s Mardi Gras, Kylie Minogue expressed her opposition to Australia’s ban on same-sex marriage, saying “Of course I believe that it should be legalised. I always say, love is love is love,” according to the Herald-Sun.

In recent months, several major names from the entertainment field have expressed support for marriage equality in Australia including Hugh Jackman and Olivia Newton-John.