Tag: Sydney

Neville Wills, 98, and his partner Ian Fenwicke sat together as they watched New South Wales decriminalise homosexuality in 1984. But the Sydney couple, who have been together for 39 years, never imagined they would one day be planning their wedding. 'I'm glad I've lived this long to see it,' Mr Wills told The Sydney Morning Herald after marriage equality laws were signed off on Thursday. Mr Wills, a university professor, and Mr Fenwicke, 74, first met at a luncheon in the...

Politicians voted in favor of allowing gay couples free community venue hire for 100 days if the law is changed to allow them to marry The City of Sydney has passed a motion that will allow gay couples to hire community facilities for weddings for free – if marriage equality comes to Australia. The country is currently holding a postal vote to gage public opinion on the matter. The results of the vote will be announced 15 November. The government is...

With a whopping crowd of "about 20 people." Last month the Australian right-wing group, Party For Freedom, announced its plans to hold a “straight lives matter” rally in Sydney on September 23. And this past week it actually happened. According to ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) a crowd of “about 20 people” event at Green Park were far outnumbered by counter-protestors. “Some people have said it’s provocative but we’re just exercising our democratic right to freedom of speech and freedom of location,” said Nick...

Opponents of same-sex marriage preached their hate to the skies on Sunday morning. Just days after the start of Australia’s postal vote for same-sex marriage, anti-equal marriage campaigners have written “Vote No” across the skies of Sydney. The message appeared above the city’s Inner West district on Sunday morning, encouraging Australians to vote against marriage equality. Australian Conservative Senator Cory Bernardi told opponents of same-sex marriage to be “vigilant” during the Coalition for Marriage’s launch of the No campaign. To an audience of...

The mail said if same-sex marriage is legalized, women will be more likely to be raped in public toilets Benedict Brook is a Sydney-based journalist who has been in a relationship with his partner Cameron for more than 10 years. Here he shares their reaction to receiving an anti-marriage equality leaflet in the mail during Australia’s postal survey on the issue. Benedict and Cam’s story Lying among a pile of envelopes on the living room table, it looked innocent enough. Between a bill and...

'The energy of Sydney was intoxicating' Steve Grand made sure his ‘wild’ time at Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras was captured on video. The All-American Boy star has posted on YouTube highlights from his trip Down Under earlier this month where he definitely mixed business with some pleasure. Grand flew 16 hours, on his 27th birthday, to arrive in Australia on 1 March. He got settled then did the BridgeClimb Sydney​, swam in the harbor and fed kangaroos. Grand then put on his...

In a push to promote LGBTI rights the Australian Embassy will host Hanoi's first Mardi Gras Festival Vietnam’s capital Hanoi is about to host its first ever LGBTI Mardi Gras Festival. Hosted by the Australian Embassy the idea of the festival is to bring the spirit of the world famous Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras to Vietnam. ‘Promoting gender equality is a top priority for both the Vietnamese and Australian Governments and we are proud to support Vietnam’s efforts, including through...

The Australian LGBT event kicks off this Friday. Qantas Airways is showing its support for the LGBT community by painting one of its planes in rainbow colors in honor of this month’s 39th Annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. Dubbed the “Rainbow Roo,” the plane features a rainbow flag on the tail and has the company’s name painted in rainbow colors along the side, as well. https://twitter.com/BrettHayhoe/status/829852140273180672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw https://twitter.com/robzlon/status/830833311937347585?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw The theme for this year’s Mardi Gras celebration is “Creating Equality,” as Australia is still...

The 38th Syndey Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, an Australian LGBT pride parade, was a rainbow-coloured, glittering success… Malcolm Turnbull, Australian Prime Minister, has attended many times before but never while prime minister, so he made history as the first one to attend the parade, the Guardian reported. Tunbull wrote in the festival guide: “The hard work and commitment of Sydney’s LGBTQI community has seen this event grow to a festival drawing visitors to Sydney from around the world. However, we...

47-year-old Liberal, Trent Zimmerman announced that he has won a by-election in North Sydney, becoming the first out gay representative of Australia’s lower House. Zimmerman has been in the North Sydney Council for eight years, and was VP of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Business Association. He supports marriage equality, and mentioned that during his campaign in the by-election. ‘I would have supported a free vote and preferred it to be decided by the Parliament,’ Zimmerman said. ‘But that’s the path we are going to go down so I will...