SYDNEY, Australia –
Thousands of people rallied in Australian cities over the weekend in support of
same-sex marriage, as politicians across multiple parties prepared to submit a
bill to make the unions a legal right.
More than 4,000 gathered in central Sydney Sydney in a colorful march, chanting “Put the bill, pass the bill, marriage rights now!”
and carrying banners reading “Love is love”.
“We’re going to come back to the streets again and again
until we win,” march organiser Rachel Evans from activist group Community
Action Against Homophobia told the cheering crowd.
Similar rallies were held in Perth on Sunday and in Brisbane
and Hobart on Saturday. Supporters of marriage equality will hold rallies in
Melbourne and Adelaide next weekend.
“This is the height of the campaign,” Evans told AFP in
Sydney.
“It’s one of the largest rallies.”
One of those taking part, Matthew Higgs, said he was raised
by his mother and her partner and wanted equal rights for them.
“She’s been with her partner for a long time,” he told AFP.
Sally Rugg, with activist group GetUp, told the crowd that
support for the issue went beyond marriage rights and sent a message to the
community that gay people were accepted.
A backbencher from the ruling Liberal Party – seconded by an
opposition Labor representative and with co-sponsors from other parties – was
set to introduce a marriage equality bill as parliament resumes this week.
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