Doorstop media conference at High Court, Canberra, 9:40am today, Tuesday December 3rd, 2013
Featuring: Australian Marriage Equality’s Rodney Croome, Human Rights Law Centre’s Anna Brown, PFLAG’s (Parents, Families of Friends of Lesbians and Gays) Donna Goddard and a couple hoping to get married under the ACT’s same-sex marriage laws.

Issue: the Federal Government’s High Court case against the ACT’s Marriage Equality Act and AME seeking to present submissions to the Court.

MOMENTOUS WEEK FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY
– advocates seek to defend same-sex marriage in High Court
– first Australian same-sex marriages due Saturday
– lobbyists to meet MPs

Marriage equality advocates have declared this a momentous week for the reform with the High Court due to hear the Federal Government’s case against the ACT’s Marriage Equality Act on Tuesday and Wednesday, and with marriages due to commence under that Act on Saturday.

Australian Marriage Equality national director, Rodney Croome, said AME will seek to intervene in the High Court case in defence of state same-sex marriage laws when hearings begin tomorrow.

“This is the first test of whether the states can legislate for same-sex marriages and we believe it is important there is a voice for the many same-sex couples who want to be able to marry.”

“Beyond the constitutional debate this is ultimately about Australia’s same-sex couples and their families being treated with equal dignity and respect.”

Australian Marriage Equality will be represented on a pro bono basis by Jeremy Kirk SC and Perry Herzfeld as counsel, and the Human Rights Law Centre and law firm Allens.

Pending a High Court decision, marriages are due to begin in the ACT on Saturday.

Mr Croome said AME knows of at least twelve couples who are planning weddings despite the possibility the ACT law may be struck down.

“The fact that couples are going ahead regardless of the High Court challenge show how deeply they value marriage and how much they want the opportunity to make legal vows of lifelong commitment.”

Australian Marriage Equality, together with national spokesperson for Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), Donna Goddard, will also spend a large part of this week lobbying federal parliamentarians.

“Regardless of the outcome of the High Court case we will continue to push for a cross-party conscience vote so marriage equality can ultimately be achieved nationally.”

There will be a media conference at 9.40am, Tuesday December 3rd to discuss the High Court case and AME’s potential intervention in that case.

Three statements by couples intending to marry under the ACT law can be accessed by clicking on the following links:

Meg and Anne-Marie
Michelle and Leanne
Veronica and Krishna

To contact these couples please call Ivan Hinton on 0419 124 826.

For a copy of AME’s submission click here.

For more information contact Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668, Ivan Hinton 0419 124 826 or Donna Goddard on 0403 199 897.

Author: Rodney Croome
Publication AME Media Release
Date: 3 December 2013