The NSW Gay & Lesbian Rights Lobby (GLRL) launched a postcard campaign on Mardi Gras Fair Day 2004 to urge the Carr Labor government to enact legislation to recognise gay and lesbian families.

Hundreds of postcards were signed on Fair Day targeting Premier Bob Carr, Minister for Community Services, Carmel Tebbutt and Attorney General, Bob Debus, urging the Ministers to act immediately to end to discrimination against lesbian and gay families.

“Over 25 years worth of credible research has confirmed that it is family processes not family structure that determine the health and well being of a child. That is, love and care comes first and foremost in a family rather than the gender and sexuality of the parents. Despite this evidence, the Carr Labor government continues to turn a blind eye to all the gay and lesbian families in our community, said GLRL co-Convenor Rob McGrory.

The GLRL report, And Then... The Brides Changed Nappies (April 2003) outlines several law reform options that would recognise the relationships of gay and lesbian parents with their children. The report is based research and extensive community consultation undertaken over the course of a year.

“Parenting is one of the last major areas of law reform in NSW. The lack of recognition under the law has an effect on the everyday lives of lesbians, gay men and their children, in areas such as medical treatment and schooling. Under the current law, if a parent who is not biologically related to the child dies, the child would have no right to worker’s compensation, automatic inheritance and superannuation benefits,” said GLRL co-Convenor Somali Cerise. “By denying our families legal recognition the law makers of NSW are trying to keep our families in the closet. We implore the Carr Labor Government to end this discrimination immediately.”

“Other states such as Western Australia, Northern Territory, ACT and Tasmania have forged ahead with reforms to recognise lesbian and gay families. It’s time for NSW to catch up," concluded Rob McGrory.