My Big Fat Gay Wedding

Local News, By Christian Taylor, 3rd July, 2009

Community Action Against Homophobia (CAAH) are looking for couples who want to participate in what they hope will be the biggest ever illegal same-sex wedding. The demonstration will be held as part of the National Day of Action for Same-Sex Marriage in Sydney on Saturday August the 1st.

Pastor Karl Hand from Crave Metropolitan Community Church will be officiating over the ceremony.

“The so called progressive governments in America and Australia have been really slow in recognising the equality of queer people,” said Hand in a statement. “And have stalled on so many of the promises that they have made. It’s time for queer people to stand up and take their future into their own hands.”

Hand hopes that if enough people show up, it will send a clear message to the Rudd Government “that human rights are not optional and that our community will not tolerate them being delayed.”

A national opinion poll released last month shows that 60% of Australians support same sex marriage. The poll was conducted by Galaxy polling and commissioned by Australian Marriage Equality and Equal Love, with the support of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG).

“This poll scuttles the only rationale put forward by the Rudd Government for opposing equality, namely that a majority of Australians believe marriage should only be between a man and a woman,” said Peter Furness, Australian Marriage Equality national convenor, in a statement.

CAAH are organising illegal Australian Marriage certificates for all participants, and couples are invited to write their own vows if they like.

“With recent polls… and with the introduction of the Federal Same-Sex Marriage bill into parliament last Wednesday now is the best time to stand up and show support for full equality for same-sex couples and create real change,” said Emilia Lawonski, CAAH co-convenor.

Mass wedding demonstrations will also be held as part of the National Day of Action for Same-Sex Marriage in Melbourne and Canberra.

Willing participants can now register online or e-mail: caahsydney@gmail.com.