Surf Coast backs marriage equality

SURF Coast Shire has joined the marriage equality campaign, voting this week to tackle MPs and authorities on the issue.
Led by Cr Eve Fisher, the shire council has voted unanimously to publicly support marriage equality, irrespective of sex or gender identity.
It plans to write to local MPs, the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission and the Commonwealth Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission advising them of its stance.
“Supporting a change to the Marriage Act is not about forcing religious groups to marry same sex couples,” Cr Fisher said.
“It is about human rights and equality for all people. Marriage has many purposes and has long been a secular as well as religious act.
“It is also for legal security, to publicly celebrate commitment, to provide greater legal protection for children, or simply because two people are in love.
“The campaign for marriage equality is important because the current marriage laws systematically discriminate against a particular class of people in our society.
“The Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities recognises everyone is entitled to equal and effective protection against discrimination.”