New GLAAD campaign commemorates one year since ACT’s gay marriage
AROUND this time of the month聽a聽year ago, same-sex marriages were legal for the first time on Australian soil in the ACT 鈥斅燼lbeit only for five days.
To commemorate the significance of the event,聽US-based LGBT rights group GLAAD have launched a worldwide campaign to celebrate the 31 same-sex marriages that became invalid once the High Court overturned聽the ACT’s gay marriage laws on December 12.
The 聽encourages聽people to send congratulatory messages to the 31 same-sex couples who married聽over five-day period this time last year.
The campaign聽video (scroll down below to watch) invites聽people to send anniversary messages to the couples on social media platforms聽using the #5daysofequality hashtag.
The messages will then be delivered to a meeting place in Canberra where the 31 couples are聽invited to read聽them.
“Equality starts with personal stories. For the 31 couples in Australia whose marriages were robbed from them, we want them to know that there are many people across the globe who recognise and celebrate their love and commitment,” GLAAD president Sarah Kate Ellis .
“By sharing their stories, we can show people around the world the importance of marriage protections for all loving couples.”
December 7, 2013 marked the day the ACT became the first聽Australian jurisdiction to allow same-sex marriages be carried out and recognised under law.
The Federal Government challenged the ACT laws, citing聽inconsistency with the federal Marriage Act, and it was聽eventually struck down by the High Court on December 12.
However, in its ruling, that the聽Federal Government had constitutional power to enact marriage equality via an amendment of the Marriage Act.
Last month, NSW Liberal Democrat Senator David Leyonhjelm in Federal Parliament, in the hopes to prompt the Coalition Party to decide in favour of聽a conscience vote.
Sad outcome for that legislation. Today is first anniv for my marriage to my same sex partner in NZ.
I am so happy at the response we have received from around the world so far. Its likely to become even more once more countries come out of their weekends!
Yes, Caroline , we were invited to participate.
Mandy have you seen this :)