ON A MISSION: Showing their support for gay marriage by doing a flyer drop along the Coast are Nick Outterside, Annie Whitehead, Beth Brownrigg, Amy Barwick, Julia Haywood, Jasmine Gaul, Paul Haywood, Andrew Bramich and David Livingstone.
Picture: Kate Prestt.
TEN thousand flyers asking North-West residents to vote for an upper house member who will resolve the gay marriage issue were dropped in letterboxes along the Coast over the weekend.
Burnie man Nick Outterside and his partner Amy Barwick are part of a team of volunteers who want the upper house to pass the Same-Sex Marriage Bill and they hope their efforts to raise the public’s awareness will get it across the line.
Mr Outterside encouraged people when they cast their vote on the May 4 election in the Legislative Council seat of Montgomery to replace long- serving independent Sue Smith, that they vote for a candidate who shared their belief in marriage equality.
Mr Outterside said Tasmania would be the first state to take the lead on marriage equality if just two more upper house members supported reform.
“Last time it was defeated only by two very tentative votes. A lot has changed since then and we believe with enough effort we will see it get through,” he said.
“We hope the flyers would highlight the issue and make people have their voice heard before the motion is moved in parliament.”
Mr Outterside said the issue of same-sex marriage was more than allowing all people to marry.
“It is about creating equality in a greater context and ensuring that we are working towards stamping out discrimination in our community,” he said.
“Sure there are heterosexual people now who might not want to get married, but that’s a choice they can make and it should be the same for anyone.”
People can show their support at the Australian marriage equality barbecue from 11am until 2pm on April 20 at the Ulverstone Rowing Club.
Mr Outterside said it was a chance for everyone to have a fun day and hear from a range of speakers on marriage equality.
To find out which candidates support marriage quality in your electorate go to the Tas Unitedwebsite.
Author: Kate Prestt
Publication: The Advocate
Publication Date: April 1, 2013