The Labor Party is under increasing pressure to support gay marriage at its upcoming national conference. However, many within the ALP still remain unconvinced – including the Prime Minister. 7.30’s Heather Ewart investigates.
*
LEIGH SALES, PRESENTER: If the Gillard Government were to embrace the cause of gay marriage, would it hurt them electorally? According to one prominent pollster, the answer’s not at all.
Momentum’s building among the grassroots of the Labor Party to allow same sex marriage, even though the Prime Minister Julia Gillard is personally opposed.
It looks like the powerful NSW branch will join other states in recommending gay marriage reform when it holds its conference on Saturday week.
But as national affairs correspondent Heather Ewart reports, federal Labor has to decide whether the push for gay marriage is something a majority of Australians support, not just progressives in its own ranks.
HEATHER EWART, REPORTER: These butchers at Hoppers Crossing in Melbourne’s west are lovers and business partners. They’re in Julia Gillard’s electorate and they all barrack for the same footy team. But that’s where any similarity ends. John Dini and Steve Russell have been together for more than eight years and want to take their relationship one step further.
For a full transcript and video of this story, click here