(August 13, 2007, Article: Turnbull takes on Mission for Gay & Lesbian Rights, Phillip Coorey and Sherrill Nixon for the Sydney Morning Herald)
In Sydney yesterday several hundred people marched from Oxford Street to Town Hall to protest against federal and state discrimination against same-sex couples, including the federal ban on same-sex marriage and the state's ban on gay adoptions.
Among the protesters were Evie Dwyer and Kat Hand, who are planning to have a baby.
But they know they will not share equal parenting rights in the eyes of the law. The Dulwich Hill couple face an expensive process in the Family Court for Ms Hand to be recognised as the second parent when Ms Dwyer has their baby, to be conceived using the sperm of a friend.
"There are so many other things that make up a good parent," according to Ms Dwyer, who said she "married" Ms Hand in a ceremony in January after more than five years together. "Most children in lesbian families are planned and thought out and wanted."
The rally marked three years since same-sex marriage was banned by Federal Parliament, in legislation drafted by the Howard Government just months before the 2004 election.
 The Greens Senator Kerry Nettle has accused the Government of electoral expediency over its new attempt before the election to stop same-sex couples adopting children from overseas. She told the rally yesterday that the Greens wanted all legal discrimination removed, and she called on the Labor Party and the Liberal Party to overturn their opposition to same-sex marriage. The ALP says that if it wins power it will remove legislative discrimination against gays, but not allow gay marriage.
Senator Nettle said: "All Australians deserve full equality … this is hateful politics about an issue where we should all be celebrating the love that people have for each other." 
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/turnbull-takes-on-mission-for-gay-and-lesbian-rights/2007/08/12/1186857348360.html?page=fullpage |
There has been some controversy this week about the absence of a response from the Greens on ACL's election website, Australia Votes. The Greens declined to respond to the ACL’s 25 questions and ACL advised the party that this would be recognised on www.AustraliaVotes.org. 