“The United States has fulfilled its promise of equality for all, and now it’s time for Australia to do the same.”
– Rodney Croome.

Australia’s Marriage Equality advocates say a US Supreme Court decision paving the way for marriage equality across the USA is bitter sweet and have promised to step up the campaign in Australia.

Australian Marriage Equality national director, Rodney Croome, said,

“This is a bittersweet decision because many Australians will be inspired by the US Supreme Court decision but also deeply embarrassed that same-sex couples are now able to marry in places like Alabama and Mississippi but not in Australia.”

“The pressure on the Australia Government will now be immense both from the millions of Australians frustrated by inaction in Canberra and from the fact Australia is alone among developed, English-speaking countries in banning same-sex marriages.”

“The world will now stop asking ‘will the US adopt marriage equality’ and start asking ‘why hasn’t Australia’?”

“We will now step up our campaign with rallies, forums and meetings across dozens of electorates so that when parliament goes back in August the issue is at the top of the agenda.”

“Australia’s ban on same-sex marriages is now untenable and I’m hopeful the US decision will be enough to tip the Government into allowing a free vote and tip the numbers in parliament into a majority.”

“The United States has fulfilled its promise of equality for all, and now it’s time for Australia to do the same.”

For more information contact Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668 or Ivan Hinton-Teoh on 0419 124 826

For comment from a lead US marriage equality organisation, Human Rights Campaign, call Kerry Brodie on +1 202 423 2858.

Author: Rodney Croome
Publication: AME Media release
Date: 27 June 2015