Petition to Parliament
This year, NSW could make marriage equality a reality. A group of MPs in NSW Parliament from across the political spectrum are organising to pass legislation this year that would recognise all relationships in NSW equally with the respect and dignity that they deserve.
A successful bill in NSW could be the key to unlocking the political deadlock around marriage equality by putting pressure on other states and the Federal government.
Can you sign the petition to members of NSW Parliament using the handy tool on the right to support the push for marriage equality?
Callum Mathieson (L) and Clinton Bryan (R).
Callum & Clinton
Here's the email that GetUp member Clinton sent to GetUp about marrying his husband, Callum:
Hi there,
My name is Clinton, and I am 29 years old. On November the 16th 2012 I got married to Callum Mathieson at Dunbar House in Watsons Bay Sydney. While we know that technically we did not get ''married'' nor will we be ''husbands'', this day was treated as such ever since we got engaged
When Callum proposed we originally were going to wait until it became legal. There is just something special about exchanging vows that has more impact if they were legally recognised. Though the thought of waiting for 5, 10 or even 15 years for legalities to catch up with social opinion was just not an option. The thought of someone else deciding when we were ready for this next chapter in our lives didn't seem to sit well with us. Why should politics dictate when we feel that we want to get married, or at all?
So we decided to do it anyway. And on the 16th of November Callum and I walked down the aisle accompanied by our mothers and witnessed by our fathers.
Our wedding is an example of what a modern day wedding looks like. It's not a man and a woman, a man and a man or even a woman and a woman. But two people, standing in front of the most important people in their lives expressing their love and devotion to each other. Witnessed by family and friends and recognised by law.
We are so very lucky to say that we had our mothers walking us down the aisle, our fathers signing the witness certificate. My brother was my best man, our sisters did a reading in the ceremony and our nieces and nephews made up the wedding party as our page boys and flower girls.
To our friends and family this day was not a wedding between two men or even a civil ceremony as it is most commonly called. But simply a Wedding.
Kindest regards,
Clinton Bryan
NSW MARRIAGE EQUALITY
Support the push for marriage equality legislation in NSW.
NSW MPs, I support the passage of marriage equality legislation in NSW that recognises all relationships equally with the respect and dignity that they deserve.