Why Cant We Get Married . com

2009-05-11T11:12:00.000+10:00

Promoting a world without discrimination based on difference.

Thank you for visiting WhyCantWeGetMarried.com!

WhyCantWeGetMarried.com doesn't understand discrimination based on difference and so we question whether religious/cultural/political 'rights' should ever be more important than basic human rights.

Some thoughts:

- We breathe, bleed and love the same so why are some relationships, that do not hurt anyone, discriminated against?

- Why should a person who believes one religion face hate, danger or even death for loving another person who believes a different religion?

- Why can't two people with different shades of skin love without a society or government intervening?

- What does it matter if two people of the same gender love each other?

We do not support hate, we promote love, respect and understanding. We hope you will join us in creating a more equitable world.

You can find our MySpace Group or our Facebook group by looking up "Why Cant We Get Married . com".

If you want to find out more about the organisation, how you can get involved, or more about media and partnering opportunities, then please email Kristiana at info [a] whycantwegetmarried.com. We welcome any ideas and invite you to keep an eye on this space.

Thank you for believing and taking action towards a world without discrimination based on difference!

Sincerely

Kristiana
info [a] whycantwegetmarried.com

Our Purpose

2009-05-11T11:11:00.000+10:00

Thank you for supporting the WhyCantWeGetMarried.com project!

Before we pass on some updates, we have been asked to clarify the WhyCantWeGetMarried.com purpose. The main purpose of our project is to challenge any individual, government or society from preventing two adults from loving each other - if they are causing no harm to anyone and are happy together. Our project particularly focuses on ending discrimination experienced by inter-racial couples, inter-religious couples and couples who identify as part of the LGBIT (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Intersex Transgender) community. Our project is about promoting love, peace and equality for loving couples worldwide.

If you ever have any questions or suggestions for our project, we are always happy to receive emails to info[a]whycantwegetmarried.com

Thank you again for all your support, we hope you enjoy reading this update.

Kristiana and Kristina
Co-founders
WhyCantWeGetMarried.com

1. Human Rights Consultations
2. CharterForCompassion.com
3. Civil Union Petition
4. Anti-discrimination Video

1. Human Rights Consultations
If you are interested in helping to create a Human Rights Act in Australia then there is still time to make a submission to the National Human Rights Consultation Committee. Just visit the ‘Share your views’ page of the Human Rights Consultation site.

2. CharterForCompassion.com
We have come across an exciting inter-faith project called the Charter for Compassion. It is a collaborative effort bringing together the voices of people from all religions, with the aim of building a peaceful and harmonious global community. Ultimately, the Charter will demonstrate that the voice of negativity and violence so often associated with religion is the minority and that the voice of compassion is the majority.
To keep on top of this project look up charterforcompassion.com directly.

3. Civil Union Petition
A young student in Australia has created a petition online to lobby the Australian government to allow same-gender Civil Unions. If you would like to demonstrate you support by signing the petition online, you can access it here.

4. Anti-discrimination Video
Sometimes it is easy to get offended by people’s language use and application of stereotypes, but at the same time it can be difficult to recognise the harm caused by our own prejudices. Here is a video we came across recently that highlights how discrimination against one is discrimination against all. We think it is a powerful and challenging 1 minute video.

Latest News

2009-03-11T11:11:00.003+10:00

Good day

We at WhyCantWeGetMarried.com have been very busy of late, writing applications, utilising the efforts of volunteers, collaborating and creating. We want to thank you ALL for your support, even if that support is only in joining our online groups!

We value each and every contribution to our project and thank you heartily for your encouragement!

In this update we have some great news to report, as usual see below the full stories.

1. Tell the Government Your Views!
2. Promoting Inter-racial Understanding:
3. Decriminalising Homosexuality:
4. West Africa Chapter Opens!
5. Expressions of interest for international chapters.
6. Article: ‘Cultural "Rights" vs Human Rights’

Thank you again.
Kristiana
Info [a] whycantwegetmarried.com
WhyCantWeGetMarried.com

1. Tell the Government Your Views!
In Australia you have a wonderful opportunity to share your views about human rights with the National Human Rights Consultation Committee! You can make a submission online by 29 May, 2009.

We at WhyCantWeGetMarried.com would encourage you to include in your submission why you think discrimination is unacceptable, along with any personal stories of how you have experienced discrimination, especially based on your race, religion or sexuality.

2. Promoting Inter-racial Understanding:
To promote understanding and increased human relations, we thought we would share two really wonderful sites that help promote understanding of Indigenous Australian culture. Although specifically about the indigenous peoples of Australia and neighbouring Islands, the information might be useful internationally. Try looking up shareourpride.org.au or reconciliation.org.au

If you know of any other informative websites that might promote inter-racial understanding, please let us know by emailing info [a] whycantwegetmarried.com

3. Decriminalising Homosexuality:
In December last year the United Nations General Assembly created a statement calling for the worldwide decriminalisation of homosexuality. On 18/03/09, United States President Barack Obama formally endorsed the statement to join the other 66 UN member states who have also declared their support.

4. West Africa Chapter Opens!
Our West Africa Chapter has been running for a few months out of Sierra Leone. Their actions and updates can be viewed at their website.

Many, many thanks to George for his tireless efforts on this project. If you want to help the West Africa Chapter by making in-kind donations (such as a desperately needed computer) or want to help out in some other way. Please write to us at info [a] whycantwegetmarried.com

5. Expressions of interest for international chapters.
Thank you very much for the expressions of interest for international chapters for WhyCantWeGetMarried.com!

We have received interest from Venezuela, Mexico, the United States of America, Canada, the United Kingdom, Turkey, Egypt, South Africa, Pakistan, Indonesia and Singapore.

If you are interested in starting up a chapter of whycantwegetmarried.com in your area, please get in contact by emailing info [a] whycantwegetmarried.com .

6 Article: ‘Cultural "Rights" vs Human Rights’
The following is an article I have written that was inspired by another article I wrote in collaboration with a delegate called Nick Henderson, at the World Youth Congress last year.

Cultural "Rights" vs Human Rights

What makes one culture more valuable than anyone’s basic human rights? This is a question that has come out of discussion with individuals from different countries, religions and beliefs. It is a question that every one of us, as human beings, and leaders of our generation need to ask ourselves; what makes one culture more valuable than our basic human rights?

There are many incidents that have lead me to ask this question, but here are just two:

At a conference at attended last year I heard a delegate promoting the action of "curative rape" as an appropriate treatment for lesbian women. Until hearing this individual mention it, I had never been exposed to the term. "Curative rape" is when a man or group of men rape a woman or girl to "cure" her of her identified or suspected homosexuality. While science can verify that this ‘treatment’ is based entirely on myth, that rape is a gross violation of basic human rights, and that homosexuality is not a choice for many people (and even if it was a choice), what makes one culture more valuable that anyone's basic human rights?

Similar devastating belief systems should not only be examined in relation to perceptions of sexuality, nor to a single incident, but should be examined as part of a much broader discussion.

Consider for instance, pop culture and pop music. To some people their national music is a symbol of pride, but to others, it is a soundtrack to genocide. What, for example, makes insensitive music appropriate to be played at a communal café or leadership forum? The question again is, what makes one culture more valuable than anyone's basic human rights? This is not just a hypothetical situation but a legitimate question into a very real breach of each person's right to safety.

This article is designed to be an awareness raiser; to encourage each of us to recognise that we have a contribution to make to this world and a responsibility to ourselves and each other to act responsibly, with integrity, and equitably. Joining this project is a great step in the right direction. However, it is easy to just talk about human rights when you are surrounded by like-minds; real human rights are about integrating your thoughts and your actions even against adversity, for the benefit of humanity.

We at WhyCantWeGetMarried.com have made a commitment to respect cultural difference, accept everyone's right to choose their religion, and value everyone's right to an opinion. What we don't respect, accept or value is that a single belief system can ever be more important than anyone's fundamental human rights, rights that are designed to protect and respect every single one of us.

To see your rights, visit the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights site.

Some very exciting news!

2008-12-23T11:11:00.004+10:00

WhyCantWeGetMarried.com would like to thank you ALL for supporting us silently, loudly and/or passionately in 2008!

We have many exciting things in store for 2009 but for this update, here are our two most recent and wonderful pieces of news.

1. WhyCantWeGetMarried.com West Africa Chapter launched!
2. New partnership established with ‘Africa Change International’!

We look forward to working towards a world without discrimination based on difference again in 2009. Thank you again. Have a safe, happy and loving holiday season and all the very, very best to everyone in 2009!

Kristiana
on behalf of the entire WhyCantWeGetMarried.com team!

1. WhyCantWeGetMarried.com West Africa Chapter launched!

One year on from launching the project, WhyCantWeGetMarried.com has launched our first regional project centre; ‘WhyCantWeGetMarried.com West Africa Chapter’!

George, a passionate and beautiful man from Sierra Leone is leading the West Africa Chapter and making amazing progress. Working on educational campaigns in schools, lobbying with community leaders, creating posters and handbills, as well as hosting radio programs are just some of the many projects that George has been working on. We are incredibly thankful to have George on board and look forward to working with him in 2009.

2. New partnership established with ‘Africa Change International’!

Africa Change International is a project dedicated to making a difference in the lives of at risk young people in Ghana through education and sport. Like us, this organisation is dedicated to making the world a better place and has approached us for a partnership opportunity because we are both organisations seeking a similar end goal. ACI’s Executive Director, Peter Osei said in an email to us recently, “We believe in the work you are doing, and we don’t encourage any type of discrimination. We believe in treating all individuals fairly and equally, regardless of their age, sex, sexuality, religion or race.”

We are stoked to be affiliated with Africa Change International and look forward to helping each other promote a more peaceful and understanding world in 2009 and beyond!

We win some, we lose some.

2008-11-11T11:11:00.001+10:00

Hello wonderful supporters of equality!

We have a problem. We do not want WhyCantWeGetMarried.com to be just about equality for the queer community, we want it to be about equality for all because discrimination based on difference doesn't make sense to us. The issue is, we regularly seem to come across news and support for queer rights so the quest for racial and religious equality seems significantly quieter. If you have ideas or information that might be helpful, please feel free to write to me and let me know.

In this update:
1. Same-sex marriage ban in 3 North American States but a fairer America on its way
2. 'Stop Honour Killings'
3. A giant leap towards equality in Australia

Thank you again for all your support.
Much love

Kristiana
WhyCantWeGetMarried.com

1. Same-sex marriage ban in 3 North American States but a fairer America on its way

Unfortunately, earlier this month a proposition to redefine marriage as being between a man and a woman (and thereby excluding same-sex couples) was passed in 3 North American states; California, Arizona and Florida. An appeal against the decision has been launched in California and we will let you know what the result is. The states of Connecticut and Massachusetts still recognise same-sex unions and hopefully with Obama as president elect more states will afford equality for all.

In a recent blog Obama talks about the Obama-Biden Plan to strengthen civil rights and support the LGBT community. If this blog is a promise to the North American people, a more fair society for all is what we can expect.

2. 'Stop Honour Killings'

'Stop Honour Killings' is a website designed to raise awareness of and protect the 5000 or so victims of honour killings. Many of the individuals in this statistic are murdered for loving someone who is from a different religion or culture and WhyCantWeGetMarried.com cannot understand how murder for loving someone can be justified.

This site is responsible for some amazing campaigns and is a great source of information about the injustices that occur worldwide in connection to honour killings.

3. A giant leap towards equality in Australia

Speaking of amazing campaigns and information I got a really exciting email from GetUp this morning. See below.

Thank you to all who followed the link from our site and signed the campaign!
p.s. You can see below for a free sticker showing your support.

---------- Original message ----------
From: GetUp
Date: Tue, Nov 25, 2008 at 9:37 AM
Subject: Congratulations on coming out for equality

Dear WhyCantWeGetMarried.com,

Last night the Senate passed historic legislation removing outdated discrimination against same s-x* couples in scores of laws ranging from tax, superannuation and Medicare to social security, health, aged care and employment.

You joined over 53,000 GetUp members on the petition calling for an end to this unfair discrimination and were at the forefront of demonstrating to our politicians that now is the time for equal rights.

Congratulations.

To celebrate the passing of these laws we've created a free commemorative sticker as a small way of showing that your support helped to create real change for same s-x couples. Click here to order your free sticker.

The passing of this long overdue legislation marks years of campaigning to end discrimination against same s-x couples. Congratulations are due to the many organisations and individuals like you who campaigned to end this discrimination.

Only when we can demonstrate that the community's attitudes are out of step with our laws will our politicians follow - and you were an integral part of that process. Click here to order your free sticker.

Thanks for working towards a progressive Australia,
The GetUp team

PS - Commemorate this historic day, click here to order you free sticker.
* Please note - the "e" in this word has been removed to avoid spam email filters.

GetUp is an independent, not-for-profit community campaigning group. We use new technology to empower Australians to have their say on important national issues. We receive no political party or government funding, and every campaign we run is entirely supported by voluntary donations. If you'd like to contribute to help fund GetUp's work, please donate now! If you have trouble with any links in this email, please go directly to www.getup.org.au. To unsubscribe from GetUp, please click here.
Authorised by Simon Sheikh, Level 2, 294 Pitt St, Sydney NSW 2000

A little mail out...

2008-10-30T11:11:00.000+10:00

1. 'NO' on Proposition 8
2. Youthquake

A little mail out and a big smile.
:D
Always.

1. 'NO' on Proposition 8.

If WhyCantWeGetMarried could vote, we would be voting 'NO' on Proposition 8. As United States Senator Dianne Feinstein says in an ad campaign release a few days ago, “Proposition 8 would be a terrible mistake for California. It’s about discrimination and we must always say NO to that.”

If you live in California or you have the right to vote in California, please help us end discrimination by government (one proposition a time) and vote 'NO' on Proposition 8.

2. Youthquake

One of our friends in Pakistan, Kanwal recently sent me the definition of Youthquake, and I thought you might find it interesting;

Youthquake: The massive number of young people in Asia who are changing traditional attitudes, role models and consumption patterns. While Asia is getting older in general, by 2015, there will be 500 million young Chinese alone, the equivalent to the entire projected population of the European Union.
The Change: The growth in youth population is pushing youth culture to evolve even more rapidly in Asia than in North America, leading a creative renaissance and a new pop culture that’s a mix of Eastern and Western influence. Young Asians are wealthier, more image-conscious, more demanding and more brand-savvy than their parents.

I haven't worked out how to utilise a 'Youthquake' for WhyCantWeGetMarried.com but I'll let you know when we come up with something...

Thank you again for your ongoing support.

Kristiana
www.whycantwegetmarried.com

What a BUSY few months!

2008-09-30T11:11:00.000+10:00

Thank you all for supporting whycantwegetmarried.com in our efforts to eliminate discrimination worldwide.

This is a long update so please see the bullet points below for a summary of action on the last few months.

1. Taking whycantwegetmarried.com to the world.
2. Where are we now.
3. Expressions of interest for international chapters.
4. A reply to my letter to the Australian Prime Minister.

If you have any ideas or feedback, we would LOVE to hear from you, please email info [a] whycantwegetmarried.com

Thank you

Kristiana and Kristina
www.whycantwegetmarried.com

1. Taking whycantwegetmarried.com to the world.

In August, Kristina and I were able to take whycantwegetmarried.com to Canada for the World Youth Congress, a non-partisan, non-religiously affiliated, international youth activist conference.

We met people from all over the world and were able to gain a little bit more of an understanding of how our project might be applied internationally. We had no idea how well-received we would be.

This project that you are supporting literally has the potential to save countless lives worldwide. This project has the potential to educate and empower people all over our planet and prevent the unnecessary hate, rape, attacks and murders that occur based on intolerable difference, or, worse than that, intolerable SUSPECTED difference.

From the conference we were able to better focus our project so that it could be used to benefit the greatest number of people. We are in the process of focussing ideas and future as per the next section; Where are we now.

2. Where are we now.

When we got back from the conference we were contacted by Human Rights Watch New York for a possible partnership. Nothing has resulted as yet, but we are astounded that Human Rights Watch even heard about us!

We have also met up with a representative from Visible Ink who has given us varied and ongoing information and assistance for all sorts of funding, resource and guidance help.

An amazing Lawyer called Stephen Page who knows all about equality in Australian law has also been in contact with us to offer his support, we haven't been able to utilise his services much as yet, but he has a couple really helpful blogs that we often refer to http://www.blogger.com/profile/02082170376808966772

We also met up with a really charismatic campaigner called Cam from LOLWTF. Cam was full of ideas to put whycantwegetmarried.com on the international radar which was fantastic, but also helped us to realise what we really want for the project.

So what do we want? We want a project that gets people thinking without being offensive. We want to be culturally sensitive while challenging what is, and is not acceptable on a human rights level. We want to make a meaningful difference in people's lives and we want to afford everyone safety and freedom to love whoever they choose so long as it doesn't hurt anyone else.

But how can this be achieved? See Expressions of interest for international chapters below.

3. Expressions of interest for international chapters.

Before and during the World Youth Congress we had received expressions of interest to start up international chapters of whycantwegetmarried.com

We have so far received interest from Venezuela, Mexico, United States of America, Canada, United Kingdom, Turkey, Egypt, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Pakistan, Indonesia and Singapore.

While we are delighted with the enthusiasm and passion exhibited by these regions, we are cautious not to establish any chapters without a concrete base. Hence, we are in the process of establishing our Project Charter and registering whycantwegetmarried.com as a not-for-profit (NFP) organisation.

If you are interested in starting up a chapter of whycantwegetmarried.com in your area or want to know more about this when it become available, please get in contact through info [a] whycantwegetmarried.com .

4. A reply to my letter to the Australian Prime Minister.

Finally, you might recall that several months ago I wrote a letter to the Australian Prime Minister asking how I could help him represent me fairly, and advocate for my basic human right, to not be discriminated against based on my sexuality. I finally received a response.

It is below.

From the Australian Government
Attorney-General's Department
Classification, Human Rights and Copyright Division

Dear Ms …………..

I refer to you recent correspondence concerning discrimination against same-sex couples and the Government’s position on same-sex marriage/civil unions. The matters you have raised fall within the portfolio responsibilities of the Attorney-General, the Hon Robert McClelland MP. The Attorney-General has asked me to respond on his behalf.

The Australian Government believes that people are entitled to respect, dignity and the opportunity to participate in society and receive the protection of the law regardless of their sexuality.

The Government is removing discrimination against same-sex couples and their children in Commonwealth laws. Following these reforms, same-sex relationships will be treated in the same way that opposite-sex de facto relationships are treated for the purposes of Commonwealth entitlements and programs. The general areas of laws that will be reformed are taxation, superannuation, social security, health, aged care, veterans’ entitlements, worker’s compensation, employment entitlements, immigration and other areas of Commonwealth administration.

These laws were identified in the landmark Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission report Same-Sex: Same Entitlements and through an audit conducted by the Attorney-General’s Department. The focus of the Commission’s report was on financial and work-related legislation that discriminates against same-sex couples and their children.

On 28 May 2008, the Attorney-General introduced the Same-sex Relationships (Equal Treatment in Commonwealth Laws – Superannuation) Bill 2008. This Bill makes amendments so that same-sex couples are no longer denied the payment of death benefits from superannuation schemes or the tax concessions on death benefits currently made available to opposite-sex couples.

One 18 June 2008, the Bill was referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs for inquiry and report by 30 September 2008 or after the consideration of any related bills, whichever is the sooner. Further information on the inquiry can be accessed at www.aph.gov.au/senate/committee/legcon/ctte . I encourage you to make your views known as part of the inquiry process.

The significant changes in this Bill will shortly be followed by further reforms that will end same-sex discrimination in a wide range of Commonwealth laws. In some areas, such as social security, taxation and veteran’s affairs, the reforms will be phased-in to allow time for couples to adjust their finances, and for administrative arrangements to be implemented. All of the changes are expected to be implemented by mid-2009.

It is the Government’s view that couples who have a mutual commitment to a shared life should be able to have their relationship recognised. The Government’s policy on relationship recognition supports at state-based nationally consistent scheme for the registration of committed adult relationships that are not marriages.

I trust that this information will be of assistance. Thank you for bringing your views to the Government’s attention.

Yours sincerely

Peter Arnaudo
Assistant Secretary
Human Rights Branch

Little progress...

2008-05-04T11:11:00.001+10:00

For those in Australia, you may or may not have heard yet but parliament looks like it has just approved Civil Unions in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), making it the second of the country's states or territories to recognise same-sex relationships.
(The full story can be read on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation website).

This is a step in the direction of equality and a surprising one considering that earlier this week our Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and the Leader of the Opposition Brendan Nelson were broadcasting that same-sex marriage and civil unions were not on the agenda, nor was there any intention to put it on the agenda. (They did however concede that equality for same-sex couples in other areas would be examined i.e. tax, health, etc).

On the theme of our Australian government, I also just wanted to let you know that our Prime Minister has not yet replied to my letter (posted last update) nor do I suspect he ever will despite his website suggesting a two day response time...

Hmm...

Until next time, remember that little actions can leave big impacts and your support in this group is absolutely appreciated!

Feel free to invite others on your friendship list.

All the best.

Kristiana

An update...

2008-04-15T11:11:00.002+10:00

Hello wonderful people!
I am sorry it has been so long between mails!

A few people have asked me lately what is happening with WhyCantWeGetMarried.com and so I thought it was well and truly time for a brief update.

1. WhyCantWeGetMarried.com applies for $20,000 scholarship opportunity.
2. WhyCantWeGetMarried.com writes to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
3. Anti-discrimination laws make the agenda at the Australian 2020 summit.
4. WhyCantWeGetMarried.com gets promoted as part of Youth Week celebrations in Queensland

If you would like to add anything to WhyCantWeGetMarried.com, or have any helpful suggestion, we would LOVE to hear from you on the facebook or MySpace group site or at info [a] whycantwegetmarried.com

Thank you again for your ongoing support in creating peace, respect and understanding for inter-racial, inter-religious and queer couples worldwide.

Kristiana

1. WhyCantWeGetMarried.com applies for $20,000 scholarship opportunity.

In February WhyCantWeGetMarried.com applied for a scholarship to the value of $20,000 with the Skoll Foundation in California. We haven't heard back yet but we suspect we were unsuccessful this year do to the extremely high calibre of applicants. We don't necessarily perceive this to be a bad things as we anticipate loads of awesome feedback useful for next year's application!

2. WhyCantWeGetMarried.com writes to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

Using a very handy website we have discovered, I wrote a brief letter to the Australian Prime Minister this week. I haven't yet had a reply but I will let you all know if one comes through. The letter went as follows:

Subject: Dear Mr Rudd, I want to support you.

Dear Honourable Prime Minister Kevin Rudd

I am a Queensland constituent who pays all my taxes, contributes positively to the community in a range of roles and represents my nation internationally at conferences. I am very fortunate that I have met the person I want to spend the rest of my life with. We are currently living together and plan soon to get married.

Unfortunately, our marriage will not be recognised under Australian law because it will be a marriage of two women. This means that we are not afforded the same rights as my straight sister and her chosen husband which affects our ability to start a family, qualify for family insurance, family taxes and family health benefits. Basically, it means that because I was born with a love for the right person for me and without specification for that person being a man, I am experiencing significant discrimination.

You have the power to lead a change in this discriminatory situation and I would like you to let me know I can support you, as my chosen representative, to create a fairer system that will recognise my partner and I as a legally married couple with the same rights as my sister and her chosen husband.

Thank you very much for your time. I look forward to helping you eliminate discrimination from our current parliamentary system.

Kristiana

3. Anti-discrimination laws make the agenda at the Australian 2020 summit.

By a purely excellent stoke of wonderful luck I have found myself to be friends with the former Attorney General of my state who for five terms served as the Minister for Change, transforming discriminatory laws in this state into more fair and equal laws.

This gentleman that I have become friends with asked me a couple of weeks ago what he should present to the Prime Minister and the other delegates selected to attend the 2020 summit as pressing issues to be addressed by our nation. He suggested that he would present an issue on my behalf and asked me what that issue might be.

Naturally, I suggested making a more fair and equal system for inter-racial, inter-religious and queer couples because the current discriminatory system is not only holding us back as a nation, but it is a damaging system that can promote intolerance and disrespect for many members of our community.

4. WhyCantWeGetMarried.com gets promoted as part of Youth Week celebrations in Queensland.

This Saturday just gone I participated in a poetry slam as part of Queensland Youth Week celebrations. I read a poem about travelling I had written and then informed the audience about how much I had learnt about myself and the world while travelling recently.

I then announced to them all that one thing I learnt while travelling was that I was queer. Some people in the crowd cheered. I then told the audience that I didn't know how to tell my mum, and so I had written her a poem called, "Does it matter?" which I proceeded to say to the crowd.

Even though the poetry slam was a part of Youth Week celebrations, there were a lot of people from many age groups in the audience of a couple of hundred. I used this as my opportunity to ask them if it mattered that I (or anyone else) was queer. I then shamelessly promoted WhyCantWeGetMarried.com

I may have only altered one other person's thought processes about equality on Saturday but that would mean that at least one other person's thought processes have been altered.

Thank you again for your ongoing support!

Kristiana
info [a] whycantwegetmarried.com

More progress... HURRAH!

2007-12-12T11:11:00.006+10:00

To everyone supporting WhyCantWeGetMarried.com

More exciting news!!

1) Progress for WhyCantWeGetMarried.com
2) Congratulations to Josh and Sean
3) Make your voice heard!

THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU FOR SUPPORTING WHYCANTWEGETMARRIED.COM!!!

!!!!!

Please invite friends to our group!

Kristiana
info [a] whycantwegetmarried.com

1) Progress for WhyCantWeGetMarried.com
In the December issue of Australia's favourite Lezbian magazine LOTL there is a write up on WhyCantWeGetMarried.com
It is a feature article near the front with a picture of Kristina and I, and a story about how we met and how WhyCantWeGetMarried.com was born.

2) Congratulations to Josh and Sean
At the end of last month two QUT Queer Collective members who have joined the WhyCantWeGetMarried.com support group got their relationship recognised in the British Consulate Brisbane, Australia. They dedicated their Civil Ceremony to an ongoing fight for recognition and equality to all queer relationship in Australia and for that WhyCantWeGetMarried.com and the entire queer community is thankful!
(Unfortunately the WhyCantWeGetMarried.com crew were unable to attend as we were in Adelaide for a mass gay wedding ceremony as part of the Feast Festival. But we wanted to share congratulations best wishes with Josh and Sean!!)

3) Make your voice heard!
The GetUp Group are organising a petition and letters to be sent to the Australian Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition for equality to all queer couples in Australia. To be a part of this FREE campaign, just visit the GetUp website and fill in the form. It is a simple and important step for equality for queer couples in Australia, especially now that the new Leader of the Opposition has mentioned his support for equality for queer relationships!

One small success...

2007-11-12T11:11:00.002+10:00

Kristina and I carried our big "Why Cant We Get Married . com ?" sign with pride today as Prime Minister John Howard came to town. We waved, we smiled and we kissed to show that we were determined to fight hate with love.

It worked!!

SkyNews, Channel 10, Channel 9, Channel 7, Brisbane News, The Australian, The Courier Mail and The Sydney Telegraph were all excited to get footage of us.

The police front expressed support for our cause and people in the street were congratulating us and asking us, "Why cant you get married?".

So if you are in Australia or Brisbane, keep an eye out on the news tonight and the papers this week because it looks like we got a bit of coverage.

I just thought you all might be excited for the news!

We are!

Kristiana
info [a] whycantwegetmarried.com

Getting started...

2007-11-11T11:11:00.002+10:00

To everyone who supports the WhyCantWeGetMarried.com project, THANK YOU!!!

If you are living in the Brisbane metropolitan area (Australia) or otherwise have access to QNews, the issue released on Friday 9 November, 2007 has an article on WhyCantWeGetMarried.com!

In other news of progress, we are working on the website (but my skills are limited so until I find someone who knows what they are doing, work with me...), we have created an email account (info [a] whycantwegetmarried.com) and later today plan to hold up a sign to Prime Minister John Howard that says "Why Can We Get Married . com ?"

It is all happening folks and it wouldn't be going anywhere without your support for this project! So THANK YOU!!

Please feel free to invite more people to the facebook and myspace groups, or direct them to the website because the greater our membership, the more powerful a voice we have!

Thanks again!

Kristiana
info [a] whycantwegetmarried.com