TAMWORTH turned out in droves for the city’s first marriage equality forum on Tuesday night.
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Organisers said that about 80 people were packed in to the back room of Joe Maguires Pub, exceeding initial expectations.
If marriage equality happens in Australia, no one will be less married and no one will be more gay.
- Tiernan Brady
Australian Marriage Equality campaign director Tiernan Brady told the crowd it was about setting the right tone in the conversation.
"Marriage equality is about cherishing the values we've had for generations and recognising that everyone needs access to them,” Mr Brady said.
“[It] fits with values we’ve always wanted and what we love about ourselves.
“If marriage equality happens in Australia, no one will be less married and no one will be more gay.”
Mr Brady said sharing personal stories with the community was a key step and how focusing on human beings rather than human rights made the issue more real for others.
“About 10 years ago, about 30 per cent of Australians were in favour of marriage equality,” he said.
“Now, it’s sitting at about 70 per cent.”
He said the change had come from “40 per cent having a conversation with a LGBTI person”.
Two-time Olympian Daniel Kowalski said he was overwhelmed to see strong turnouts to events around regional NSW.
Mr Kowalski talked about his experience as an openly-gay man and how the current predicament for the LGBTI community didn’t fit with Australia’s perception as the “lucky country”.
“I don’t have the same opportunities as my next-door neighbour,” Mr Kowalski said.
“I don’t feel particularly ‘lucky’ that I can’t do that.”
The former Olympic swimmer said he was happy to use his status as an athlete to push the cause.
“Our athletes are role models and its’ a platform nobody should take lightly because it is a privileged position where your beliefs can influence many to breakdown stigmas and stereotypes,” he said.
A poll of The Leader’s readers found a slim majority were in favour of marriage equality.
There were just over 260 respondents to the poll with 52 per cent saying it was time for marriage equality.
This contingent were closely followed by 46 per cent who voted no, while the remaining two per cent were undecided.