MEMBERS of the NSW parliament have been urged to soften their hearts during a historic and emotional debate on gay marriage.
With increasing pressure to change what opponents say are discriminatory marriage laws, NSW is the latest Australian legislature to bring the issue to the floor of parliament.
A federal parliamentary inquiry is already under way into three private member’s bills aiming to change the Marriage Act to recognise gay couples, following a vote at the ALP National Conference to give Labor MPs a conscience vote on gay marriage.