Marriage Equality advocates have welcomed the Deputy Opposition Leader’s online poll on marriage equality. Ms. Bishop is the latest Liberal MP to poll her electorate on the issue, and follows Malcolm Turnbull, whose poll has reportedly already returned 68% support for marriage equality.
Australian Marriage Equality (AME) National Convener, Alex Greenwich “Allowing supporters of equality to be counted demonstrates great respect for the families and couples directly affected by current discrimination in the marriage act”.
Mr Greenwich has also called on the Prime Minister to allow her constituents to express their views through a similar platform ” The Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, voted in favour of the Green’s motion to gauge constituents views on marriage equality, and we hope she soon follows the lead of Tanya Plibersek, Julie Bishop, and Malcom Turnbull”.
AME and PFLAG (Parents and Friends on Lesbian and Gays) are spending this week in Canberra in meetings with over 30 MPs from both major parties. They are using the meetings to stress the importance of marriage equality to families, couples, gay and lesbian youth, and from a rights perspective.