Equal Love
Encyclopedia
Equal Love is an Australian-wide campaign initiated by the Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby
in an attempt to win gay and lesbian couples marriage rights in the country. The campaign involves a range of community, union, student and activist organisations who's aim is to influence public and government attitudes towards LGBT
couples through education and direct action
.
which was passed by the Australian House of Representatives
in June of that year, which stated that a same-sex union "must not be recognised as a marriage in Australia." In 2009, an Equal Love spokesperson claimed that "60% of Australians support equal same-sex marriage
rights and the introduction of the gender neutral bill. Equal marriage rights are becoming a significant and central human rights issue." In 2010, tens of thousands of Australians participated in Equal Love demonstrations for marriage equality.
Equal Love has had the support of Amnesty International
, the Australian Greens
and other notable individuals such as Victoria
n Labor Party Minister for Education Bronwyn Pike
, The Lord of the Rings star Ian McKellen
and Australian Idol
finalist Rob Mills
.
's largest not-for-profit LGBT community organisation
. Equal Love's Convener, Ali Hogg, won an ALSO award the same year as the 'Most Outstanding Volunteer' for her work in the campaign. In 2011, Hogg was recognised in the 'Absolut People's Choice' award as the country's most influential LGBT person for her work in Equal Love, as part of Same Same’s
'25 Most Influential LGBTI Australians'.
Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby
The Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby is the peak lobby group in Victoria, Australia for the attainment of equality, human rights and social justice for gay & lesbian people....
in an attempt to win gay and lesbian couples marriage rights in the country. The campaign involves a range of community, union, student and activist organisations who's aim is to influence public and government attitudes towards LGBT
LGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
couples through education and direct action
Direct action
Direct action is activity undertaken by individuals, groups, or governments to achieve political, economic, or social goals outside of normal social/political channels. This can include nonviolent and violent activities which target persons, groups, or property deemed offensive to the direct action...
.
History
The campaign began in 2004 in response to the Marriage Amendment Bill, introduced by the John Howard GovernmentHoward Government
The Howard Government refers to the federal Executive Government of Australia led by Prime Minister John Howard. It was made up of members of the Liberal–National Coalition, which won a majority of seats in the Australian House of Representatives at four successive elections. The Howard Government...
which was passed by the Australian House of Representatives
Australian House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia; it is the lower house; the upper house is the Senate. Members of Parliament serve for terms of approximately three years....
in June of that year, which stated that a same-sex union "must not be recognised as a marriage in Australia." In 2009, an Equal Love spokesperson claimed that "60% of Australians support equal same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage is marriage between two persons of the same biological sex or social gender. Supporters of legal recognition for same-sex marriage typically refer to such recognition as marriage equality....
rights and the introduction of the gender neutral bill. Equal marriage rights are becoming a significant and central human rights issue." In 2010, tens of thousands of Australians participated in Equal Love demonstrations for marriage equality.
Equal Love has had the support of Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
, the Australian Greens
Australian Greens
The Australian Greens, commonly known as The Greens, is an Australian green political party.The party was formed in 1992; however, its origins can be traced to the early environmental movement in Australia and the formation of the United Tasmania Group , the first Green party in the world, which...
and other notable individuals such as Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
n Labor Party Minister for Education Bronwyn Pike
Bronwyn Pike
Bronwyn Pike is an Australian politician. She was Minister for Education in Victoria in the Brumby Government, and is the State Member of Parliament for Melbourne.-Early life:...
, The Lord of the Rings star Ian McKellen
Ian McKellen
Sir Ian Murray McKellen, CH, CBE is an English actor. He has received a Tony Award, two Academy Award nominations, and five Emmy Award nominations. His work has spanned genres from Shakespearean and modern theatre to popular fantasy and science fiction...
and Australian Idol
Australian Idol
Australian Idol is a Logie Award-winning Australian singing competition, which began its first season on July 2003 and ended its run in November 2009. As part of the Idol franchise, Australian Idol originated from the reality program Pop Idol, which was created by British entertainment executive...
finalist Rob Mills
Rob Mills
Rob Mills is an Australian singer best known as one of the finalists from Australian Idol 2003. He was a co-host on the late-night quiz show The Mint as well as a regular singer on the game show The Singing Bee both on the Nine Network...
.
Awards and recognition
In 2010, Equal Love won an ALSO Foundation award in the category of 'Most Significant Activist of the Year' in the Australian LGBT community. The ALSO Foundation is VictoriaVictoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
's largest not-for-profit LGBT community organisation
Community organization
Community organizations are civil society non-profits that operate within a single local community. They are essentially a subset of the wider group of nonprofits. Like other nonprofits they are often run on a voluntary basis and are self funded...
. Equal Love's Convener, Ali Hogg, won an ALSO award the same year as the 'Most Outstanding Volunteer' for her work in the campaign. In 2011, Hogg was recognised in the 'Absolut People's Choice' award as the country's most influential LGBT person for her work in Equal Love, as part of Same Same’s
Samesame.com.au
Samesame.com.au is an Australian LGBT website created by Tim Duggan and a partner. The website is run by Sound Alliance in the Sydney suburb of Surry Hills...
'25 Most Influential LGBTI Australians'.
National supporters
- Amnesty InternationalAmnesty InternationalAmnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
- Australian DemocratsAustralian DemocratsThe Australian Democrats is an Australian political party espousing a socially liberal ideology. It was formed in 1977, by a merger of the Australia Party and the New LM, after principals of those minor parties secured the commitment of former Liberal minister Don Chipp, as a high profile leader...
- Australian Coalition for Equality
- Australian Education UnionAustralian Education UnionThe Australian Education Union is an Australian trade union, founded in 1984 as the Australian Teachers Union, which is registered with Fair Work Australia as an employee group, and is affiliated with the Australian Council of Trade Unions...
- Australian GreensAustralian GreensThe Australian Greens, commonly known as The Greens, is an Australian green political party.The party was formed in 1992; however, its origins can be traced to the early environmental movement in Australia and the formation of the United Tasmania Group , the first Green party in the world, which...
- Australian Marriage Equality
- Australian Services UnionAustralian Services UnionThe Australian Municipal, Administrative, Clerical and Services Union, which operates under the trading name of the Australian Services Union or ASU, is a trade union that represents members in a variety of industries.-Union history:...
- Comeout
- Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union of AustraliaCommunications, Electrical and Plumbing Union of AustraliaThe Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union of Australia is a trade union in Australia. Its full name is the Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing and Allied Services Union of Australia as it represents workers in all of these industries.CEPU is an...
- Community and Public Sector UnionCommunity and Public Sector UnionThe Community and Public Sector Union is a national trade union in Australia.- History of The CPSU :...
- Council of Australian Postgraduate AssociationsCouncil of Australian Postgraduate AssociationsThe Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations, or CAPA, is the peak representative body for postgraduate students in Australia. Founded in 1979, CAPA provides member associations with representation to the Federal government, and peak bodies such as the Australian Research Council and...
- Democratic Socialist PerspectiveDemocratic Socialist PerspectiveThe Democratic Socialist Perspective was an Australian Marxist political group, which operated as the largest component of a broad-left socialist formation, the Socialist Alliance...
- Finance Sector UnionFinance Sector UnionThe Finance Sector Union of Australia is an Australian white collar trade union formed from the amalgamation of various smaller unions drawn from the banking, insurance, trustee, broking, and general finance industries.-Origins:...
- Freedom Socialist Party
- Gaydar
- Green Left WeeklyGreen Left WeeklyGreen Left Weekly is an Australian radical left-wing newspaper, written by progressive activists to "present the views excluded by the big business media". It was published by the Democratic Socialist Perspective from its inception in 1990 until January 2010, when the DSP merged into the Socialist...
- Human Rights Council of Australia
- Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous UnionLiquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous UnionUnited Voice, formerly known as the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union is a large Australian trade union, with around 130,000 members...
- National Tertiary Education UnionNational Tertiary Education UnionThe National Tertiary Education Union is an Australian trade union for all higher education and university employees. It is an industry union and the only union working exclusively in the Australian university sector.-About the NTEU:...
- National Union of StudentsNational Union of Students (Australia)The National Union of Students is the peak representative body for Australian university students. Most student unions in Australian campuses are affiliated to NUS...
- Organisation Intersex International Australia
- Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
- Rainbow Labor
- Same SameSamesame.com.auSamesame.com.au is an Australian LGBT website created by Tim Duggan and a partner. The website is run by Sound Alliance in the Sydney suburb of Surry Hills...
- Socialist AllianceSocialist Alliance (Australia)The Socialist Alliance was founded in 2001 as an alliance of socialist organisations and individuals in Australia, initiated by the Democratic Socialist Perspective and the International Socialist Organisation along with 6 other founding socialist organisations, to create greater left unity in the...
- Socialist AlternativeSocialist Alternative (Australia)Socialist Alternative is a Trotskyist political organisation in Australia formed by an expulsion from the former International Socialist Organisation in 1995. It is one of the largest groups of the Australian far Left, claiming to have the largest active membership. With branches across...
- Young Australian Democrats