Last Update: Saturday, August 14, 2004. 6:01pm (AEST)
|
New legislation has been passed in Parliament banning same-sex marriage. (Lateline)
|
|
Protesters march against same-sex marriage ban
More than 300 protesters have marched through Sydney to oppose new federal legislation
banning same-sex marriage in Australia.
The law was passed in the Senate late on Friday with the support of the Federal Opposition.
Today's march stopped outside the Family Court and ended at the New South Wales Labor
Party headquarters, where protesters chanted "shame Labor shame".
Trans-gender rights activist Grace Abrams told the rally that the right to a civil union
should be available to every citizen.
She said the Liberal and Labor parties were merely appeasing the religious right with
the marriage ban.
"We might not all want to be married but we know that you're stealing our rights from
us," she said.
"We're not stupid and we're not as complacent as you think.
"It is garbage to say that because marriage has traditionally been reserved for heterosexual
unions that it has to stay that way.
"If that were true, then the traditional practice of state-sanctioned slavery would still
exist and women would not be allowed to vote."
