“Local voices” in support equality are what Australia’s marriage equality advocates hope MPs will hear more of in the wake of advocacy and lobbying workshops across the nation.
Australian Marriage Equality has released details of a series of workshops designed to skill and empower supporters of equality to share their personal stories with those around them and lobby federal politicians.
AME National Convener, Alex Greenwich, said marriage equality will be achieved when a wide range of supporters feel able to voice their support for reform in their local community and to their local MP.
“We know that a majority of Australians support equality, but so far opponents of equality have captured the attention of law-makers by being more vocal”, Mr Greenwich said.
“Our priority is to have multiple grassroots voices raised in support of reform at a local level in each and every electorate.”
The ALP National Conference will debate marriage equality in December by which time Mr Greenwich hopes all MPs have heard from a range of constituents who support marriage equality.
“We have already conducted workshops in Sydney and Melbourne, and having learnt what works best we will now roll them out to all other capitals and regional centres.”
Presenters at the workshops include eminent anti-homophobia trainer and author of “Beyond ‘That’s So Gay'”, Daniel Witthaus, National PFLAG spokesperson and Senior Queenslander of the Year, Shelley Argent, and prominent gay law reform advocate and co-author of “Why v Why: gay marriage” Rodney Croome.
For more information contact Alex Greenwich on 0421 316 335
Details of the workshops in June and July are included below. Details for more workshops in August will be finalised soon:
Brisbane
June 4th
9.30am to 12.30pm
New Farm Neighbourhood Centre
967 Brunswick St, New Farm
Perth
June 25th
9.30am to 3.30pm
Northbridge Piazza Function Centre
cnr Lake and James Sts, Northbridge
Adelaide
July 9th
9.30am to 3.30pm
AIDS Council of South Australia
2 Eton Rd, Keswick
Hobart
July 16
9.30am to 3.30pm
Meeting Rm 1, McDougall Bdg
Ellerslie Rd, Battery Point