Over a thousand people gathered at Sydney’s Taylor Square on Oxford Street earlier today to rally for Marriage Equality, amidst increasing pressure on the Australian Parliament to push through a bill allowing same-sex marriage and one notable attendee was the sister of Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Christine Forster.
With a Marriage Equality bill set to be introduced to the House of Representatives tomorrow headed by Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, the first time a party leader has done so, and the resounding success of the referendum in Ireland that has allowed same sex marriage in the normally conservative nation, the conversation surrounding Australia’s now behind-the-times approach has reached an all time high.
Prime Minister Abbott has been a staunch opponent to gay marriage, a position in stark contrast to his very own sister Christine Forster, who herself is in a long-term relationship with her partner, and now fiance, Virginia Edwards, and has voiced her support for marriage equality numerous times in the past.
Speaking at the rally, organised by the bi-partison Australian Marriage Equality group, Forster introduced her “beautiful fiance”, and again pushed her support for marriage reform, saying she believes it is inevitable “by the end of the year”, despite noting she does not think the current Labor generated bill will be the one to get it over the line.
The week ahead should prove very interesting for the cause, with Abbott revealing if he will give a conscious vote to his coalition party, allowing individual members to cross the party room floor and vote in favour of the bill, or if he will continue to force all Liberal and National MP’s to vote against it.
You can check out more photos from today’s event over at Buzzfeed Australia.
