We’re closer than ever before to real marriage equality in Australia. So this Valentine’s Day, we’re not giving up on love, and we’re not letting our politicians give up either – not until marriage equality becomes the law of the land.
What better way to remind our political representatives of where we stand on Valentine’s Day than to spread some love, and show them that in matters of the heart, we’re united for equality?
Click here to send a rose to your MP. When you chip in, we’ll also send a rose on your behalf to the PM and Opposition Leader to make sure their offices are flooded with a message of love they can’t miss!
https://www.getup.org.au/valentinesday
As we celebrate Valentine’s Day on Tuesday, we’re reminded of how far we’ve come in the past year: we’ve gathered more than 150,000 petition signatures, rallied alongside more than 10,000 other supporters at the ALP National Conference and produced the “It’s Time” video, which is still going strong with more than 5 million views and counting! The ALP came under such intense pressure that they changed their party platform, but they’ve stopped short of actually changing the law.
This is the year we can take marriage equality from political rhetoric to political reality – and we’re encouraged by positive signs all around the world. Two days ago, a US Federal Appeals court struck down California’s ban on same-sex marriage; while just yesterday, Washington became the 7th US state to vote in marriage equality. In handing down his opinion on the cases in California, Judge Stephen Reinhardt wrote:
“Marriage is the name that society gives to the relationship that matters most between adults. A rose by any other name may smell as sweet, but to the couple desiring to enter a committed lifelong relationship, a marriage by the name of ‘registered domestic partnership’ does not.” (1)
That’s the thing about equality. You either have it or you don’t. And we won’t rest until all Australians’ relationships are recognised and respected.
Let’s flood the offices of our political representatives with a reminder that Australians believe that two people who want to make a lifelong committment deserve full and equal recognition before their family, friends and the law.
https://www.getup.org.au/valentinesday
– The GetUp Team
PS. In just over a week we’re sending three wonderful same-sex couples to dinner with the Prime Minister, so this is a great chance to remind the PM, leader of the Opposition and all our MPs exactly where we stand. Send Ms. Gillard, Mr. Abbott and your MP a symbol of love they’ll never forget.