The Australian Marriage Equality (AME) group is asking voters in the ALP-held seat of Sydney not to support the Labor Party while it refuses to allow same-sex couples to marry.

AME have begun distributing flyers to households throughout the electorate highlighting Labor’s support for the current ban on same-sex marriage.
AME national secretary Peter Furness said supporters of marriage equality were frustrated with the ALP’s refusal to support full legal equality for same-sex couples.

“When it comes to marriage equality, Labor has ignored reasoned arguments, human rights principles, overwhelming popular opinion and the heartfelt pleas of ordinary Australian families, but it can’t ignore concerned voters in key seats,” Furness said.

“We are sending Labor a strong message that there is a price to pay for pandering to religious bigots and for opposing the equal human rights of gay and lesbian Australians.”

The seat of Sydney has been held by Tanya Plibersek since 1998 and is considered to have one of the highest gay populations of any electorate in the nation.

“Given her electorate, Tanya Plibersek should be one of our strongest advocates but has chosen to rigidly toe the party line throughout her career,” Furness said.

“Senior Labor figures have told us they will only take marriage equality seriously when they see constituents taking it seriously enough to change their vote. We are now following that advice.”

Source: http://www.starobserver.com.au/