A number of same-sex couples will soon dine with PM Julia Gillard at Kirribilli House to advocate for gay marriage after marriage equality groups won a charity auction.
GetUp! and Australian Marriage Equality also won the chance to dine with federal independent MPs Bob Katter, Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor.
The winning bid was worth about $31,000 – all of which will be donated to charities like Angel Flight, The Click Foundation and Working Wonders.
AME convener Alex Greenwich told OUTinPerth he was really excited by the opportunity to put the issue in front of the PM who had seemed to avoid confronting marriage equality advocates to date.
In a statement, Greenwich said: ‘All loving couples, regardless of sexual orientation, should have equal access to legal marriage. Our hope is that those same-sex partners attending the dinner will help change the PM’s mind and bring an end to discrimination, so that one day soon their families will have the recognition and respect that other families have.’
In a statement, GetUp! National Director Simon Sheikh said Julia Gillard would be forced to make the case as to why the gay and lesbian couples she will be having dinner with, cannot have their relationships recognised in the same way other Australians do.
‘During the Federal Election a year ago, it became evident that marriage equality was an issue Australians cared about despite the major parties’ failure to address it,’ he said.
‘Our politicians are elected to lead, but are far behind the public on this, it’s time they step up to the plate and support equality and fairness for all couples.’
According to AAP, this year’s auction stipulates the dinner date must be delivered between 11 and 16 days.
Benn Dorrington
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