Rainbow lights and banners on St Kilda Town Hall are signalling Port Phillip Council’s support and solidarity for marriage equality.
Three large rainbow banners were installed at the Town Hall entrance yesterday. The historic landmark is also aglow at night with rainbow lights until 6 October. The rainbow coloured installations follow Port Phillip Council recently endorsing a motion to show its longstanding support for marriage equality and encourage residents to enrol for the planned postal vote.
Letters have been sent urging state and federal MPs to make marriage equality a reality and Council is progressing its investigations into painting four pedestrian crossings in the Fitzroy Street area in rainbow colours.
Mayor Bernadene Voss said she was touched to see rainbow themed posters and displays appearing in Port Phillip residents’ front yards and traders’ windows. “We have received terrific feedback from our community about our call for marriage equality to be a basic human right,” said Cr Voss. “It’s wonderful seeing rainbow colours popping up around Port Phillip and we are proud to do the same thing in our own ‘front yard’.”
Deputy Mayor Katherine Copsey, who put forward the motion, said Council will stand proudly with the community until love wins and marriage inequality ends. “The unnecessary postal vote has given harmful homophobic material a platform,” said Cr Copsey.
“We know hateful, homophobic messaging hurts people, particularly vulnerable young LGBTIQ people, so it’s important for Council to stand by our community. We’re saying loud and proud that love is love and that everyone in our community matters and is entitled to equality in law.”
Port Phillip Council’s support for equality and inclusion includes supporting the Pride March since its inception 22 years ago and contributing $13 million to Australia’s first Pride Centre to be located on Fitzroy Street, St Kilda. In 2015, Council twice endorsed resolutions calling for marriage equality for all, regardless of sex or gender identity.
For more information, visit: www.portphillip.vic.gov.au for details.
Image: St. Kilda Town Hall lit up in rainbow colours – courtesy of the City of Port Phillip