South Australian marriage equality advocates say they will campaign hard for a new state bill allowing same-sex couples to marry.

Labor Lower House member, Susan Close, today introduced a bill that will allow same-sex couples to tie the knot under state law.

Australian Marriage Equality South Australian convener, Harley Schumann, said,

“Today the federal parliament again voted down marriage equality legislation leaving the way open for the states to take action instead.”

“We want to see South Australia lead the way on marriage equality so we will be lobbying and campaigning hard in support of this bill.”

“We will be launching a letter-writing campaign and encouraging same-sex couples and their families to lobby their local MPs.”

Last night the state Upper House passed a motion congratulating New Zealand on achieving marriage equality, with the support of two Liberal MLCs.

“The new bill would allow the South Australian parliament to achieve what it has just congratulated New Zealand for achieving”, Mr Schumann said.

This morning the Senate voted down a bill that would have allowed overseas same-sex marriages to be legally recognised in Australia.

Marriage equality legislation was narrowly defeated in the Tasmanian Parliament last year and is pending in NSW, Victoria, Western Australia and the ACT.

For more information contact Harley Schumann on 0414 839 753.

Author: Harley Schumann
Publication: AME Media Release
Publication Date: 20 June 2013