Hepburn Council stands for marriage
Victoria鈥檚 Hepburn Shire Council has called on federal Parliament to legalise same-sex marriage after it voted overwhelmingly to support change last week.
Coliban Ward Mayor Sebastian Klein said he was inspired to move the motion following a 鈥渟tirring鈥� presentation by activist Marilyn Beaumont at the Shire鈥檚 recent International Women鈥檚 Day gala.
鈥淚 believe it is our individual responsibility, at whatever stage of influence, to work to right wrongs,鈥� Klein told the Star Observer.
鈥淚f we in government, or even as individual adults, continue to sanction inequality in one area of life, then we are effectively reinforcing the prejudice that we have all witnessed in our schools, clubs and workplaces.鈥�
Klein said he hopes the shire鈥檚 calls are heeded.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really inspiring to see so many disparate elements of the wider community coming together for a common cause,鈥� he said.
鈥淢y hope is that in five years time people will be surprised that we even had to take steps like this because it is just normal for two people, who are in love and want to spend the rest of their lives together, to celebrate that commitment with all of their friends and family through marriage.鈥�
Hepburn Shire is home to Australia鈥檚 largest LGBTI regional festival, ChillOut.
ChillOut president and Hepburn Shire local Michael Brady welcomed the council鈥檚 support.
鈥淚 think the council has been brave to stand up and say, in principle, 鈥榃e think this is a good idea鈥�. It makes me proud they are trailblazing to a certain extent because there are not a lot of councils who have done this,鈥� he said.
鈥淚t sets a challenge to other councils to step up and say 鈥榃e support equality鈥�.鈥�
