THE Border gay and lesbian community will continue to push for same-sex marriage to be legalised despite the government’s plebiscite looking almost certain not to go ahead.
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Social Wodonga Albury Gays founder Brian Kuehn is planning a rally in support of gay marriage which will be followed by the first Border Pride Fair Day mid next month.
Mr Kuehn welcomed plans by the ALP to kill off the Coalition’s public vote on same-sex marriage, arguing the move would “stop hate”.
He also noted Labor had failed to do anything about gay marriage under the Rudd and Gillard governments.
“I think it’s great that the plebiscite has been stopped, but now we have to work even harder,” he said.
“I believe we need to keep our voices loud and work non-stop.
“What this does is stop the hate.
“It’s stopped different community sectors from being able to say things that would harm our youth and elders.
“They have suffered for years and years without equal rights.”
Mr Kuehn hopes the millions of dollars earmarked for the plebiscite will be spent in other areas, like mental health.
“Australia is ready for marriage equality, it’s just a matter of being able to put it through,” he said.
“It’s not a case of whether we get it, it’s a case of when.
“It should be now.
“I can’t see why we’re waiting.”
SWAG has also opened a new community centre for gay and lesbian people in Swift Street, Albury.
The centre helps to link people with services in areas including sexual health and employment.
Mr Kuehn is yet to organise the upcoming rally, which would follow a similar march held last month.
Hume Phoenix convenor Toni Johnson also welcomed the news that the plebiscite appeared unlikely to go ahead.
“It would bring out hurtful campaigns from different lobby groups, it would be expensive, it would be hurtful, and now it’s dead,” she said.
“It’s fantastic.”
A petition will be available to sign at the Border Pride Fair Day, which will be hosted at QEII Square on November 12.
It will be sent to the prime minister.
“In Ireland with the plebiscite over there, the hate campaigns that came out were very detrimental to the youth and the elderly and caused mental health issues,” Ms Johnson said.
“We definitely did not want that over here.
“I'd like to see a free vote in Parliament.
“With the help of the Australian public, we can push for that now.”
