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The Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby (GLRL) will be leading the community in a mass planting of 5,000 pink hearts for equality at Mardi Gras Fair Day, Sunday 18 February. David Graham, former Channel Ten Big Brother contestant and current Channel Seven Dancing with the Stars competitor, will make a keynote speech to mark the event at 3pm, on main stage.
“We invite the GLBT community to plant a heart in celebration of our relationships, families and our community,” said GLRL media spokesperson, May Miller-Dawkins. “In this double election year, the Sea of Hearts will send a strong message demanding the equal recognition of our relationships and families by the law.” State, federal and local politicians from across the political spectrum have pledged their support for the event. Confirmed attendees at this point, include Tanya Plibersek MP, Anthony Albanese MP, Carmel Tebutt MP, Lee Rhiannon MLC, Penny Sharpe MLC and Meredith Burgmann MLC who will be planting hearts at 2:30pm. Candidates for the seat of Sydney; Linda Scott (ALP), Edward Mandla (Libs), Chris Harris (Greens) and current NSW Bligh MP and Sydney Lord Mayor, Clover Moore (Ind) will join them.
Same-sex couples continue to face discriminating in a host of federal areas, including superannuation, immigration, taxation, Medicare, defence force entitlements, social security and veterans benefits. On a state level, unlike Western Australia and the ACT, NSW refuses to recognise same-sex families, in areas including adoption and parenting.
In 1999, the Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby successfully led the fight for changes in NSW law, which recognised same-sex couples as de facto couples across a range of property and personal rights.
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