TASMANIA SET TO ACCELERATE MARRIAGE EQUALITY NATIONALLY / THE APPLE ISLE BECOMES ‘BEACON OF HOPE’ / TAS SMALL BUSINESS COUNCIL BACKS MARRIAGE EQUALITY / NEW VIDEO AND WEBSITE EXPLAINS “HOW AND WHY” OF TASMANIAN INITIATIVE

Marriage equality advocates have hailed the Tasmanian Government’s commitment to state marriage equality laws, saying the move will accelerate reform at a national level.

Australian Marriage Equality national convener, Alex Greenwich, said,

“The fact that, for the first time ever, we may have legal same-sex marriages on Australian soil, will build pressure for the federal parliament to act and be an incentive for other states to follow Tasmania.”

“Same-sex couples married in Tasmania will demand recognition from the federal government and their own state government increasing the momentum for reform.”

“Same-sex couples marrying in Tasmania will also show the rest of the nation that the sky doesn’t fall just because two people of the same sex declare their love and commitment.”

Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said there has been an “overwhelming response” to yesterday’s announcement.

“In the last 24 hours the response to Lara Gidding’s announcement from same-sex couples and their families across the state and the nation has been overwhelming, with emails pouring in asking ‘when can we marry?’.”

“Overnight, Tasmania has become a beacon of hope for hundreds of thousands of Australians.”

“Tasmania has changed profoundly since it was the last state to decriminalise homosexuality in 1997 and we will welcome the thousands of same-sex couples from other states who want to marry in Australia rather than fly to North America or Europe to wed.”

“Marrying heterosexual couples will also be more likely to marry in a place where marriage is defined by love and commitment, not by who it excludes.”

Meanwhile, the Tasmanian Small Business Council has praised the State Government for its “entrepreneurial spirit” in supporting marriage equality.

In a statement issued yesterday evening Executive Officer, Robert Mallett, said,

“Modelling which has been provided to the TSBC demonstrates that Tasmania could benefit by the tune of $100 million if it adopts the principle of same sex marriage and is the first state to do so.”

“The proposal seems sound and would help achieve what the vast majority of Tasmanian small businesses are saying…we need more customers.”

Today, marriage equality supporters also launched a new video and website which seeks to explain how and why Tasmania should lead the nation on marriage equality.

The video can be found at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAvasBFvIvU&feature=youtu.be

The website can be found at:
www.tasunited.org

For more information contact Alex Greenwich on 0421 316 335 or Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668.