NoToPope Coalition will rally in support of the National Day of Action for same-sex marriage to say YES to same-sex marriage with full adoption rights and civil unions with ceremonies.
Rachel Evans, NoToPope Coalition spokesperson said "The Australian government introduced a bill banning same-sex unions in August 13th 2004. The Australian government was the only government, at that time to have introduced such an attack on same-sex loving couples. The Australian government remains the only Western government to denegrate our relationship to second class status and to have banned same-sex marriage", noted Evans.
"Marriage these days is just one of the options for opposite-sex partners and same-sex partners have a right to enjoy the same options and benefits as everyone else. Pope Benedict XVI says same-sex marriage is a threat to world peace. It simply isn't and would allow for much more love and compassion to flourish in the world," said spokesperson Luke Roberts.
Rev. Karl Hand of Metropolitan Community Church Sydney said, "denying people marriage is reducing them to level of children before society and the law. To people of faith, the insult is deeper, as a sacramental blessing is being denied, and their relationship with a deeper reality is invalidated. Complicit in all of this, Rudd reveals himself as more than an economic conservative - but a social conservative and a right wing Christian homophobe. Labour won this last election by becoming no better than the Liberal party."
Max Wallace, Director of the Australian National Secular Association, said it is likely the recent court finding in California allowing gay marriage will be seen as a historical turning point. 'Gay marriage as an achievable goal is achieving the point of critical mass where opposition to it is seen as unreasonable and pointless.'
NoToPope Coalition will participate in the National Day of Action for same-sex marriage on August 3rd. A rally is planned for Taylor Square, Darlinghurst, on Sunday 3rd August at 1pm
