MPs to hear from marriage equality supporters through #EqualityCalling hotline: 1300 663 679

#EqualityCalling powered by Australian Marriage Equality and Ben & Jerry’s is an Australian first

Comedian Wendy Harmer adds light touch to serious issue

Ahead of Valentine’s Day, Australian Marriage Equality and Ben & Jerry’s have announced a ground breaking campaign that will increase pressure on federal MPs to support marriage equality.

The new initiative dubbed #EqualityCalling will allow voters who support marriage equality to record a message that will be automatically delivered to their federal representatives and highlighted on social media.

Following claims by a number of politicians that the issue of Marriage Equality isn’t important to their constituents as they receive few phone calls on the topic, Ben & Jerry’s and Australian Marriage Equality have initiated a mass voice-mail campaign that will send messages of support directly to local MPs and Senators.

The voice of beloved Australian comedian, Wendy Harmer, helps callers record their message and introduces the calls that are phoned through to politicians’ offices, all in a lighthearted and humorous way.

This type of public action is an Australian first and renews the long-standing partnership between Australian Marriage Equality, Australia’s leading marriage equality advocacy organisation and progressive ice cream creators and social justice campaigns, Ben & Jerry’s. #EqualityCalling is a part of Ben and Jerry’s ongoing “Say I DOugh” campaign for marriage equality, in partnership with Australian Marriage Equality.

Kalli Swaik, Ben & Jerry’s Brand Champion Down Udder, said: “As a social justice company, we’re immensely proud to support an issue that embodies so many of our core values. We champion equality above all else, believing that everyone in a loving relationship should be able to celebrate their commitment to each other in marriage, regardless of gender or sexual orientation.

“To make marriage equality a reality in Australia, we need to make our collective community’s voices heard and that is exactly what our Equality Calling hotline will do. We hope that MPs will listen to their constituents on the importance of marriage equality when the Marriage Equality conscience vote is called later this year. We believe 2015 is the year we can create change.”

Rodney Croome, Australian Marriage Equality national director, said: “Polls show 72% of Australians support marriage equality and this exciting initiative will help convey that high level of popular support from the towns and suburbs of Australia directly into parliament.

“Equality Calling gives marriage equality supporters a quick and easy way to reach all their federal representatives and it gives us a way to publicly highlight the substantial number of contacts politicians are receiving from constituents.

“Ben & Jerry’s is an important leader on marriage equality in the corporate sector and we thank them for all they have done to help achieve the reform. Ben & Jerry’s has become integral to the Australian marriage equality story.” Mr Croome said.

Kicking off the campaign Ben & Jerry’s will unveil the Say I DOugh #EqualityCalling phone box, an iconic London phone box with a difference. Featuring a Mardi Gras makeover, the rainbow coloured, glitter bombed phone box will serve as a highly visual symbol; rallying people to unite in support of Marriage Equality and have their voices heard by their MPs and representatives.

Three photos of the phone box are attached.

The #EqualityCalling phone box will debut at Mardi Gras’ famous Fair Day on Sunday 22 February with those attending encouraged to leave a voicemail for their local MP. Those unable to attend Fair Day can still have their say and leave their messages of support by calling 1300 663 679.

The famous ice-creamery is also once again renaming its iconic ice cream flavour Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough to ‘I DOugh, I DOugh’ so fans can also show their support at scoop shops across the country.

For further information on the #EqualityCalling campaign and for images and interview requests please contact Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668 or the Ben & Jerry’s herd at One Green Bean:
matea.rojas@onegreenbean.com / 0433 442 728 or thom.landers@onegreenbean.com/ 0408 089 181

Author: Rodney Croome
Publication: AME Media Release
Date 13 February 2015

AME has a new webpage giving guidance on how to use “#EqualityCalling. It can be found here: www.australianmarriageequality.org/equalitycalling/

Notes to Editors:

The Ben & Jerry’s story:

Back in 1966, in a school gym class, Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield found they hated running but loved food. Years later in 1978, armed with a $5 correspondence course in ice cream making, they opened their first scoop shop in a dilapidated gas station in Burlington, Vermont.

The duo soon became popular in the local community for the finest all natural ice cream. Ben had no sense of taste so he relied on what he called ‘mouth feel’, so big chunks of chocolate, fruit and nut became their signature. While they disagreed at times over the chunk size, they did agree that they wanted to enjoy themselves – as Jerry put it ‘If it’s not fun, why do it?

In the early days the boys were pretty bad at bookkeeping. After two months they closed the store and hung a sign that said ‘we’re closed to figure out whether we’re making any money’. And they weren’t. But they learned a lot and by 1979, began wholesaling pints of ice cream out of Ben’s VW campervan. The rest, as they say, is history.

Ben & Jerry’s values:

Ben & Jerry’s aims to make the best possible ice cream, in the nicest possible way. Using business as a tool for social and environmental change is just as important as sourcing the finest ingredients to make ice cream. So wherever possible, Ben & Jerry’s sources ingredients from producers and suppliers who share similar values, such as only using cage free eggs to produce all our delicious flavours in Australia.

Australian Marriage Equality:

Australian Marriage Equality is a national organisation working for equal marriage for all adult couples. We believe a person’s gender or sexuality should not affect their legal rights and responsibilities under Australian marriage law.

The organisation was formed in 2004 to campaign against then proposed amendments to the Marriage Act entrenching marriage as only between a man and a woman.

Since starting as a committee of concerned citizens, Australian Marriage Equality has grown into one of Australia’s largest and most successful equal rights organisations. As a non-profit organisation, Australian Marriage Equality relies entirely on the generosity of its supporters in the community.

WHAT WE DO

Australian Marriage Equality’s approach to achieving marriage equality is through lobbying, advocacy and education. We’ve always held that marriage equality will be achieved when supporters work together regardless of faith, party, race or sexuality. We value respect, calm discussion and cooperation. We believe there is no place in the marriage equality debate for prejudice, anger and polarisation.

Our achievements include:

Gaining support for marriage equality from a wide range of human rights organisations, state parliament, local councils, unions and businesses
Obtaining recognition of same-sex marriages by government agencies like the Bureau of Statistics.
Removing official impediments to Australian same-sex couples marrying overseas.
Moving marriage equality forward at a state and national level.
Moving political parties forward on marriage equality with an emphasis on cross-party co-operation.
Increasing support for reform among legislators.
Research and polling showing increased support for reform.
Publication of key educational materials and the convening of seminars, forums and workshops.
Keeping marriage equality high on the national political agenda.

For more information on Australian Marriage Equality, head to: www.australianmarriageequality.org