Parliament's stunning Legislative Council Chamber Louisa Wall will complete the line-up of speakers at the opening night of the upcoming Marriage Equality Conference, which will be held in the Legislative Council Chamber at Parliament. After some prodding, the Speaker has granted permission for the event to be held in the significant venue. The Chamber is the room where the Upper House, or Legislative Council, met until 1951 when it was abolished. Today it's the venue for the State Opening of Parliament after each general election. It can also be used for function hosted by members of Parliament, with the Speaker's permission. Four Parliamentarians will be on the Marriage Equality Conference's opening night panel in the Chamber on Friday 30 November, who will reflect the progress made so far to improving our laws. Fran Wilde led the parliamentary campaign for the Homosexual Law Reform Bill which decriminalised male homosexual activity in 1986. Katherine O’Regan led the parliamentary campaign for broadening the human rights legislation to outlaw discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation in 1994. Tim Barnett led the parliamentary campaign for prostitution law reform in 2003and civil unions in 2004. Louisa Wall is leading the current parliamentary campaign for marriage equality. The panel will be moderated by Bill Logan, public spokesperson in the 1985-86 campaign and long-term queer welfare worker. All are urged to “come be inspired by stories and lessons from the past which will help us all with the campaign for marriage equality”. Registration here or here is mandatory for Parliament security purposes.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 14th November 2012 - 11:35am