Research commissioned by Roy Morgan during this year’s federal election showed up to 30 per cent of voters in Farrer believed homosexuality was immoral.

It’s figures such as these which worry the Border’s gay community about the Coalition’s proposed same-sex marriage plebiscite, which they argue would incite hate speech during the campaign.

Doctor Amanda Cohn, who’s running for Albury council as a Greens candidate, walked in solidarity with about 50 Social Wodonga Albury Gays members. She used her speech in QEII Square after the march to underline her opposition to a plebiscite.

“I’m really concerned about the negative impact that a public vote would have, particularly on children of same-sex couples who are already being raised on the Border,” she said.

“They don’t need to be exposed to television ads and leaflets telling them that they’re worth less than anyone else in our community.”

SWAG founder Brian Keuhn said the vast majority of the Border’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and questioning community was against a plebiscite.

“As a 51-year-old man, I’ve seen a lot of hatred over the years,” he said.

“Not so much directed at me personally, but to the community. It’s going to take us back 30 years.”

In recent weeks the Coalition’s plan for the plebiscite has hit a snag, with widespread opposition in the Senate.

Mr Kuehn was heartened to see Senator Derryn Hinch, the Greens and Nick Xenophon’s team signal they would block the government’s bill.

“Even if they do the plebiscite, it doesn’t mean anything, they don’t even have to enact it,” he said.

Mr Keuhn spoke of a particular type of happiness as they marched down Dean Street.

“People were coming out clapping, waving – it was all supportive, there was not one bit of negativity that I could even report,” he said.

“It was fantastic.”