Video: Australian celebrities launch a high-profile campaign for equal marriage
As the Out4Marriage campaign gathers momentum in the UK, celebrities in Australia have lent their voices to a high-profile equal marriage campaign, launched today.
The campaign, called ‘I do,’ is the brainchild of Marie Claire magazine, in association with the Seven Network, and the GetUp! pro-equality advocacy group.
It is fronted by Rachel Taylor, who appears on the cover of the latest issue, and says: “I think Australians are big-hearted and open-minded people, and embracing same-sex marriage is just a logical extension of who we are,” adding, “I can’t wait to celebrate the weddings of ALL my friends in the coming year… It’s time.”
Other celebrities who have lent their names to their campaign include gay Olympic gold medallist Matt Mitcham, TV host Charlotte Dawson, Miss Universe Jennifer Hawkins, fashion designers Jayson Brunsdon and Alex Perry, comedienne Magda Szubanski, and gay Greens ex-senator Bob Brown.
Jackie Frank, Marie Claire’s editor, has written an editorial in order to launch the campaign, and criticising Australian politicians. “Love is love,” she writes, “if you care about equality for all people – whether you’re gay or straight – we need your voice. Join us in our push for change.”
Gay rights groups across the country have welcomed the move, hoping as they do that it will make a difference when legislators consider two different bills that attempt to make marriage gender-neutral. Parliamentary hearings have been under way for several weeks, with testimonies from those for and against marriage equality, and these findings will be tabled on June 18.
In the UK, those who support the Out4Marriage campaign include the Home Secretary Theresa May, Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls, Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, Sir Richard Branson, the Virgin founder; The Saturdays girl group; Jack Straw, the former Foreign Secretary; David Walliams, the Britain’s Got Talent judge; Caroline Lucas, the leader of the Green party; Lynne Featherstone, the Lib Dem Equalities Minister; Peter Tatchell, the gay rights campaigner; Lord (Chris) Smith, the Advertising Standards Authority chairman and Rabbi Ariel Friedlander.
