[size=6]Gay marriage: Australia's businesses take out full-page ad backing same-sex partnerships[/size]

Some of Australia's biggest businesses have thrown their weight behind the push for gay marriage, with a full-page newspaper advertisement today.



Corporations including Google, Qantas, Optus and the ANZ and Commonwealth banks have put their names to a list of Australian businesses backing marriage equality.

Others supporters include law firms Slater and Gordon and Gilbert and Tobin, and the Football Federation of Australia.

Australian Marriage Equality national director Rodney Croome said the corporations approached the organisation send the message that Australia's business community was behind marriage equality.

"It was about corporate saying it's not just about us individually supporting this, we want to do it collectively and send the strongest possible message," Mr Croome said.

He said corporations understood the importance of respect for diversity in the workplace and equality for staff and customers.

"They're also very sensitive of course to Australia's international reputation ... that is at risk of suffering if we don't catch up to countries that are most like us — New Zealand, the UK, the US, Canada and now, Ireland," he said.

The same-sex marriage debate has gained momentum this week on the back of Ireland's hugely successful referendum at the weekend.

This morning, Coalition MP Warren Entsch said a number of Labor and Greens MPs had said they were willing to co-sponsor a same-sex marriage bill.

"I have spoken to members across parties and independents, all have agreed that they're happy to put their names and signatures to this," Mr Entsch said.

"It's just a matter of finalising it."

Labor is preparing to introduce its own bill on Monday and Mr Entsch said he was working on a cross-party solution and expected to have a draft bill ready by August.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has emphasised any moves to legalise gay marriage must be owned by the Parliament, not a single party.

Mr Abbott's sister Christine Forster told the ABC earlier she believed gay marriage would be legal in Australia by the end of the year.

Ms Forster, who is engaged to a woman, told Lateline she thought her brother knew the change was inevitable.

But she said she did not think her brother's personal opposition to gay marriage had changed.

"At the end of the day I'm sure he will understand that this is good and fair for everybody and it will be great for Australia," she said.

Mr Abbott said on Wednesday the decision on whether or not Liberal MPs should have a free vote on the issue would be decided in a party room debate.

He also indicated there should be bi-partisan support for the issue.

the first listed sponsors are the ones paying the most money for the ad

they're all banks

why are banks backing gay marriage?

In Sweden its gone so far that in 2009 they not only made gay marriage legal they made it legal in the state church. These days its illegal for a priest to deny a gay couple to get married in a state church.

My wife is christian and pro gay marriage but not in the church.

This is still the go to question by anyone that doesnt agree with christians. "what about gay marriage?"

This will happen in Australia eventually.

Same reason Lowy and everyone else are publicly announcing that they aren't going to vote for Blatter.

It's now a safe issue to support and get some nice PR, they would've crunched the numbers.

You know, there are people besides Christians who oppose gay marriage.

the first listed sponsors are the ones paying the most money for the ad

they're all banks

why are banks backing gay marriage?

Because banks have money and believe in equality, gay marriage being part of that.

http://www.prideindiversity.com.au/awei/

the first listed sponsors are the ones paying the most money for the ad

they're all banks

why are banks backing gay marriage?

Do you honestly believe they care? :lol:

It's just another method of advertising without it being explicitly an advertisement.

But hey, if you believe in marriage equality then good on them I suppose.

Because banks have money and believe in equality, gay marriage being part of that.

http://www.prideindiversity.com.au/awei/

why do banks in Australia need PR?
there's only a handful of them - everyone knows who they are

what makes you say its a safe issue to support? its quite divisive in reality

what's in it for them?


Edited by ricecrackers: 29/5/2015 10:01:23 PM

Perhaps it's because the Globalists and the Left seek the same endgame through cultural Marxism.

It's 'safe' because the modern narcissistic social media addict public is all about the 'feel good' dogma rather than rationality, traditional values or logic. Any who object or have questions that challenge the ideal bite their tongue lest they be labelled and brow beat down as an oppressor, bigot, homophobe etc.

I think there are a lot of social issues that large organizations make efforts to address at their own cost, which they do because it's the right thing to do and that they may never get publicity for.

:lol: :lol:
You seriously have a victim complex about this?

It's a simple issue. Either you think all Australians are deserving of the same legal rights, or you don't.

"The Globalists and the Left' aren't going to kidnap your children and force them to start sucking dicks, Churches seems to have that market cornered.

I think there are a lot of social issues that large organizations make efforts to address at their own cost, which they do because it's the right thing to do and that they may never get publicity for.

Literally the only reason banks do this is to get publicity.

Divisive? The numbers are around 65-75% support.

says who? 442?

this place isnt representative of the wider community

Newspoll has it at two thirds.

And your evidence is?

newspolls are not representative of the wider community
the vocal minority is more active in these polls and social media