This Saturday 9th July Rainbow Labor NSW will be officially launching the National Rainbow Labor's campaign website for marriage equality. The website will encourage ALP members, branches, unions & those in the wider community to post their messages of support online, to engage in the campaign for marriage equality. So come along, enjoy a drink & be part of campaign for marriage equality in 2011!.



The event is an official fringe event at the NSW ALP State Conference this weekend and here are the details.



Australian Rainbow Labor, the national body representing lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex and allied Labor Party members, welcomes today’s polling results on marriage equality.

The results show that 74% of ALP voters support allowing same sex couples to be married.

Rainbow Labor Spokesperson, Jessica Epps, welcomed the fact that 3 out 4 ALP voters call for change on this issue.

The Adoption Amendment (Same-Sex Couples) Bill has been passed through the NSW Parliament.

This bill saw the removal of the last piece of legislative discrimination against same-sex couples within NSW, and will bring stability and recognition to many families across the state.

Rainbow Labor wishes to thank all Labor MPs and MLCs who supported this significant legislation, particularly Penny Sharpe MLC who sponsored the bill through the Upper House.

Below is a copy of the speech Penny made in support of the bill.

Debate has has adjourned for the evening on the Private Member's Bill which would allow same-sex adoption.

In the meantime Verity Firth, Minister for Education has written this piece in support of the bill in today's Sydney Morning Herald. The support of senior member's of government like Minister Firth has been crucial to this campaign.

The NSW Government has recently passed legislation to create a relationships register which will make it easier for GLBTIQ couples to access legal entitlements and provide recognition for comitted and de facto relationships.

The following is a speech by Minister John Robertson, who spoke passionately in favour of the passage of the Relationships Register Bill in the Legislative Council.