Tas to send Howard giant "sad anniversary" card

This media release was issued by the TGLRG on Wednesday August 9th, 2006.

Opponents of the Howard Government's same-sex marriage ban have been invited to sign a giant card commemorating the second anniversary of the ban at the Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group's stall at Salamanca Market this Saturday.

Group spokesperson, Martine Delaney, said that after the success of last year's wedding ceremonies in Hobart marking the first anniversary of the same-sex marriage ban, the Group decided to take a different approach.

"We want politicians to know how much it hurts us when our relationships are regarded by the law as second-rate and we're hoping a sad anniversary card will get the message across", Ms Delaney said.

The card, featuring photos from last year's wedding ceremonies and the verse included below, will be sent to Prime Minister Howard early next week, with copies to other MPs.

People wishing to sign the card are invited to the TGLRG stall at Salamanca Market at 11am (the stall is near the cnr of Salamanca Pl and Gladstone St, across from Irish Murphys).

The giant sad anniversary card signing is a part of a National Day of Action which will include protests in most major centres across the country.

For more information contact Martine Delaney on 0417 530 621.

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A sad anniversary...

The ’67 Referendum made all Aussies
equal in the Law.
But you and your lot changed all that
in August of ’04.

With amendments to the Marriage Act
equality turned to farce.
You gave to same-sex couples
life as second-class.

You said to all Australians,
"These people just aren’t right.
But the Courts could say we’re wrong on that,
let’s fix the oversight!"

You did it – and in so doing
denied us equal rights.
But we guess it doesn’t bother you
or cost you sleep at nights.

You probably lie there, dreaming
of schemes to meet your ends.
But, remember while you’re lying there –
we all have colleagues, family, friends!

And they all know - in other lands,
we have the right to wed.
The sky’s not collapsed, the world still turns
and marriage isn’t dead!

So, we mark this anniversary
as one of loss and shame.
The day you used our lives as pawns
in your grubby little game.