2012 was a year of highs and lows for marriage equality. But support continues to grow, as we can see from these thirteen key marriage equality moments.
Jan 27: Nicola Roxon fulfils an ALP promise to remove the bureaucratic obstacles to same-sex couples marrying overseas.
Feb 14: Magda Szubanski comes out for marriage equality, capping a spate of high-profile endorsements from Jimmy Barnes, Guy Pearce, Olivia Newton-John and Jessica Rudd.
Feb 21: Julia Gillard has dinner with three same-sex couples to discuss marriage equality. She concedes reform is inevitable.
Mar 3: US academic, Lee Badgett, unveils research in Sydney showing the positive impacts of marriage equality on families and the economy. AME goes on to produce family-oriented TV ads.
Mar 8: Jeff Kennett endorses marriage equality followed later in the year by Tony Abbott’s sister, Christine Forster, and the East Sydney Liberal branch.
May 10: Barack Obama supports marriage equality. Equality is subsequently achieved in Denmark and advances in France, New Zealand and Britain. In November, Obama’s stance helps him win the US election, and four states vote for equality.
May 31: Parliament confirms churches will not have to marry same-sex couples. Pro-equality clergy step up their lobbying of MPs.
Jun 7: Sunrise supports Marie Claire’s marriage equality campaign, hosting a TV debate where the ACL’s Jim Wallace compares equality advocates to Nazis.
Jun 18: A House of Reps marriage equality inquiry announces it has received over a quarter million submissions, 64% for equality. A week later a Senate committee recommends reform.
Aug 6: Popular support is at a new high of 64% with 77% of Coalition voters supporting a free vote.
Aug 30: The Tasmanian Lower House becomes the first in Australia to pass marriage equality legislation which is defeated by only two votes in the Upper House. The ACT, SA and NSW promise to move ahead on the issue in 2013, with the NSW Upper House having already given in-principle support.
Sep 20: The Senate follows the House of Reps in voting down marriage equality, but the number of MPs in support has grown from 6 to almost 70 since the last vote in 2009.
Nov 21: The debate continues with Bob Hawke becoming the first ex-PM to support equality followed by conservative columnist, Janet Albrechtsen.
(Originally published on Gay News Network.)
Rodney Croome AM is the national convener of Australian Marriage Equality.