All You Need is Love. If only...

Equal Love rally this afternoon outside the State Library of Victoria

Despite the fact that our next-door neighbour, New Zealand, has now embraced it; the sister of our Prime Minister-in-waiting, Tony Abbott, is a gay woman who wants to marry her partner; and the majority of Australians favour it, marriage remains an elusive dream for members of the Australian LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Transgender) community.

No fairytale endings in sight for the Oz LGBT community

But that didn't stop the community and its supporters (including me) from rallying today outside the State Library of Victoria on a beautiful autumn afternoon to apply pressure. Official advocates like the Greens were there, as well as some unions, in what turned out to be a passionate and festive atmosphere.

Police enjoying their weekend gig?

The highlight for me was a heart-felt address by X-factor celebrity Paige Elliot Phoenix, who has undergone a female to male transition. He described how a bureaucratic anomaly allowed him a very brief experience of realising his dream to marry his sweetheart. He is still grieving the fact that, after the discovery that 'female' had been ticked on both their birth certificates, their happiness was snatched away.

Paige Elliot Phoenix, an eloquent spokesperson for Marriage Equality

Some of those who attended the rally undoubtedly found words more difficult, but they still made a big impact. The beautiful greyhound Slick was clear where his loyalties lie. If you are in any doubt, check out his hash tag - the unequivocal 'gay hound'.

Slick in his rainbow coat 

Perhaps Redmond Barry, who sentenced Ned Kelly to death, would have been hard to win over to the cause.

Redmond Barry turning a blind eye to the rights of the protestors

But maybe there is hope, as not all officialdom is so hard-hearted:

Victoria's first Lieutenant Governor, with spurned female, wearing his heart very close to his sleeve 

With red roses at his feet and a placard in his hand pleading 'Why Can't We Marry?' Victoria's first Lieutenant Governor, Joseph Latrobe, looks wistfully across at Redmond Barry.

I know in my last post I promised you Melbourne street art, but that's for next time.
I hope you have enjoyed this street theatre instead.
And if it's not already in place where you live, please advocate for Marriage Equality.