Australian Marriage Equality

TGLRG: Tassie could reap $100m from gay weddings

John — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 04:55:42 +0000

Media Release: Tasmanian Gay & Lesbian Rights Group
Thursday February 23rd, 2012

An American academic who has advised the New York and Californian governments on the economic benefits of allowing same-sex marriage today launched a report predicting Tasmania will reap almost $100 million if it is the first state to move on the issue.

Professor Lee Badgett, who is an economics professor at the University of Massachusetts and Director of the Williams Institute at UCLA, is in Tasmania to present political and business leaders, including Premier Lara Giddings, with a study into the economic impact of same-sex marriage in Tasmania.

Professor Badgett said,

“Should Tasmania become the “first mover” in allowing same-sex couples to marry, it will capture a large share of the Australian same-sex wedding market, as much as $96 million.”

“This is a conservative figure based on low estimates of the numbers of same-sex couples and their wedding spend, and it also doesn’t include the flow-on for tourism.”

“But even as a lower-end figure, $96 million is still significant, especially because it will mostly benefit the small business sector which is critical to the health of the Tasmanian economy.

Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesperson, Rodney Croome, welcomed the report.

“Professor Badgett’s report shows why allowing same-sex marriage will benefit all Tasmanians, not just gay people and our families”, Mr Croome said.

“Should the federal parliament fail to enact marriage equality later this year, the Badgett report is a compelling reason for Tassie to go it alone.”

“If we don’t reap the equality dividend, another state or territory is sure to.”

Yesterday, Prof Badgett met Premier, Lara Giddings, Tourism Minister, Scott Bacon, and Liberal Party representative, Elise Archer.

While in Hobart she has also met representatives of the Small Business Council and the Tourism Council.

Prof Badgett’s estimates of the economic impact of marriage equality in US states such as Massachusetts, New York, Maine and California have played a crucial role in the marriage equality debate in those states.

She has also researched the positive impacts of marriage equality on same-sex couples, their families and their children, finding that marriage fosters greater commitment between same-sex partners, acceptance within their families and security and stability for their children. Her results are published in “When gay people get married: what happens when societies legalize same-sex marriage”.

On the basis of advice from constitutional experts such as Professor George Williams, Greens’ Leader, Nick McKim has thrice introduced state same-sex marriage laws.

Until now the State Labor Government has opposed them for constitutional reasons but the Tasmanian State Labor conference has twice endorsed marriage equality with the Labor national conference doing the same in December last year.

Same-sex marriage laws have recently been introduced in South Australia and have been flagged in other states.

For a factsheet on Prof Badget’s research, click here.

For the economic impact of marriage equality in Australia generally and Tasmania specifically, click here.

Low-res photos of Prof Badgett meeting Premier Lara Giddings and of Prof Badgett after handing Tasmanian Greens Leader, Nick McKim, a copy of her report are attached below. High-res photos are available.

For more information and interviews with Prof Badgett contact Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668.

Renowned US scholar in Aus to highlight positive impacts of marriage equality

John — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 04:14:51 +0000

An American academic who has extensively researched the impact of same-sex marriage in Europe and North America is in Australia to present her findings to state and federal politicians.

Professor Lee Badgett, who is an economics professor at the University of Massachusetts and Director of the Williams Institute at UCLA, has found that marriage fosters greater commitment between same-sex partners, acceptance within their families and security and stability for their children.

She has also researched the immense economic impact of marriage equality in several US states through the wedding-spend of same-sex couples.

Prof Badgett said,

“My message to Australian policymakers is that allowing same-sex couples to marry has had beneficial impact overseas by strengthening relationships and bringing families closer together.”

“It has also provided places that are willing to take the lead on equality with an economic dividend through the wedding-spend of same-sex couples.”

“I also want to stress that the fearful predictions of some opponents of equality have not been borne out by the overseas experience.”

While in Australia Prof Badgett will speak to a range of state and federal politicians from both parties.

Her itinerary includes:

Hobart
Feb 22 and 23: Release of report showing Tasmanian would benefit by up to $96 million if it was the first state to allow same-sex marriages. Meeting with Premier Lara Giddings. (Factsheet here).

Sydney
Feb 24: Meetings with NSW state MPs to encourage support for a motion giving in-principle support to marriage equality

Canberra
Feb 27: 5.30-6.30pm, Address to MPs and members of the press gallery, Private Dining Rooms 1&4, Australian Parliament House.
Mar 1: 1.00-2.00pm, Address at ANU Law School, Law Link Theatre ANU College of Law, Bdg 5, Fellows Rd, Acton. (Flyer here)

Sydney
Mar 2: 5.00 – 6.30 pm, Address at the Whitlam Institute, Trades Hall Auditorium 4-10 Goulburn St (Haymarket) Sydney

For more information or interviews with Prof Badgett contact Alex Greenwich on 0421 316 335 or Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668.

Limestone Coast: Businesses back same-sex marriage petition

John — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 03:38:37 +0000

BUSINESS operators across the South East have started to throw their support behind a Mount Gambier couple’s campaign to lobby the Federal Government to allow same-sex marriage.

Eerin Wilson and Sarah Ward recently started the Marriage Equality for the Limestone Coast group and joined a national online campaign by marriage equality advocates to influence an upcoming conscience vote in parliament on the legalisation of same-sex marriage.

If you live on the Limestone Coast (electorate of Barker SA), sign the petition here.

Greenwich: Need help with your marriage submission?

John — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:01:41 +0000

The recently-announced marriage equality Senate inquiry gives supporters of reform an excellent opportunity to have our voices heard.

A good submission is one that does several things. First, it is well informed.

If you want to cite the level of support for marriage equality in Australia, or where equality has been enacted overseas, make sure you have a look at Australian Marriage Equality’s fact sheets first.

Alex Greenwich is national convener of Australian Marriage Equality.

QLD: Same-sex couples can sign up for civil unions from Thursday

John — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:51:09 +0000

GAY couples are preparing to line up outside the Brisbane registry office on Thursday to sign up for the state’s first civil unions.

That’s when the Civil Partnership Act comes into effect, with the first ceremonies able to take place on March 5.

It will give gay couples the same legal rights as married couples.

Further coverage here.

A butcher’s hook at dinner with the PM

John — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:47:06 +0000

It’s not every day a pair of butchers from Werribee get to bend the ear of a prime minister, but that’s exactly what happened when John Dini, 29, and his partner of nine years, Steve Russell, 51, joined two lesbian couples for dinner at the Lodge.

As reported in CW last month, the couple were invited to meet Prime Minister Julia Gillard by lobby group GetUp! whose members donated $31,000 in order to secure the dinner for six in a charity bid. They were there to discuss Ms Gillard’s stance on gay marriage.

Related coverage here and here.

Help Marriage Equality Happen: Make a Submission to the Senate Inquiry

John — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:42:57 +0000

Dear Marriage Equality Supporter,

At last night’s dinner with the Prime Minister, we were all told that she believes marriage equality will happen one day. However, it is up to all of us to make it happen.

Australian Marriage Equality helped secure cross-party support for a Senate Inquiry into Same-Sex Marriage. This Inquiry will provide every Australian will an opportunity to be heard and put forward the case for marriage equality.

Making a submission will only take a few minutes and can be done quickly and easily through our Senate Inquiry Submission webform.

Make sure your submission includes your personal story, the facts and figures about marriage equality, and is respectful and constructive.

Get started now, click here and help make equality happen.

We are getting there, and it’s thanks to you!

Alex Greenwich
National Convener
Australian Marriage Equality

Gay marriage ‘inevitable’, Gillard tells guests

John — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:50:47 +0000

PRIME Minister Julia Gillard has told three same-sex couples she believes laws allowing them to marry in Australia are inevitable.

Ms Gillard and partner Tim Mathieson hosted the couples at The Lodge last night. She told them the growing number of countries legislating in favour of the issue is placing increasing pressure on politicians to support reform.

Further coverage here, here and here.

Dinner with PM: Gay pairs chew on marriage

John — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:17:58 +0000

JULIA Gillard tonight swapped leadership talk for a grilling on gay marriage when she welcomed three homosexual couples to dinner.

The Prime Minister entertained two lesbian couples and a male couple who won the chance in an auction that raised $31,000 for charity paid by social campaigner GetUp.

The couples each told their personal stories during the three-course meal at The Lodge, hoping to sway the PM.

Related coverage here and here.

QLD: Christian lobby targets MPs over same-sex debate

John — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 23:25:40 +0000

THE Christian lobby has entered the Queensland election fight with an emotive attack on Labor MP Kate Jones.

Ms Jones, who is defending her seat against Campbell Newman, has been confronted over the former minister’s support for legislation clearing the way for same-sex couples to have civil unions and a child through surrogacy.

The Australian Family Association has sent leaflets to homes in the Brisbane electorate of Ashgrove, condemning Ms Jones for supporting laws that “violate kids’ rights to a mum and dad”.