Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby (NSW)

1. Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby (NSW)

2. Overview of Presentation • Campaign background and context • Elements of the campaign • Campaign strengths • Campaign limitations • Campaign achievements • Looking forward

3. Campaign Background and Context • 2006 • GLRL Community Consultation on Federal Relationship Recognition culminating in ‘All Love is Equal’ Report • 2007 • HREOC Inquiry and Report, ‘Same Sex: Same Entitlements’ • 58 Recommendations • 2007 • ALP election promise to implement HREOC report recommendations

4. Campaign Elements • Community education • Community mobilisation • Public events • Media strategy • Direct lobbying • Third party support

5. Community Education • Primary source of information is 58 ’08 website promoted through email lists, Facebook and media • Use of Mardi Gras events to promote educational materials such as Fairday and launch night

6. Community mobilisation • Letter writing campaign through website • Facebook campaign group and 58 08 friend • Mardi Gras parade entry – 58 08 cheerleaders singing chants

7. Public Events • Mardi Gras Fair Day 2008 Sea of Hearts • Mardi Gras Parade

8. Media Strategy • Mainstream media through Mardi Gras season and parade float • Community media – weekly column in Sydney Star Observer, 58 08 branding of every page of SSO. • Online media - Facebook

9. Direct Lobbying • Meeting with Attorney General – presentation of community letters • Letters to other key politicians across parties • Planned meeting with other key politicians

10. Third Party Support • Get Up! • Seeking support from unions, NCOSS, ACOSS, CLCs, NGOs • Other GLBT organisations • Alliance with other state groups

11. Campaign Strengths • Community support and positive feedback • Community action element • Getting attention of government • Catchy and easy to understand • Viral marketing through Facebook • Support from community media • Humanised stories through letters • Grounded in HREOC report which has authority and public recognition

12. Campaign Limitations • Funding. GLRL receives no government fundings and no charitable status • Volunteer run organisation • 58 laws are limited by terms of reference of HREOC report • Maintain community interest and momentum • Limited mainstream media attention

13. Campaign Achievements • 850 letters sent through campaign website • 1800 members of Facebook group • 2,736 visits to website since launch of the campaign • Pledge from the Attorney General to enact reform in 2008

14. Example letter "My partner and I have a daughter together, yet she cannot claim us as dependents. She cannot be included on our Medicare card and thus we don't qualify for the family Medicare safety net. She cannot get carers' leave should one or both of us fall ill. If I died tomorrow she would not automatically receive my superannuation. She cannot sign off on medical treatment for our daughter or even write her a sick note for school. I am sick of being treated like a second-class citizen in my own country, and do not wish to see my daughter grow up as one."

16. Looking forward • Taking community voices to politicians • Building relationships with third party supporters • Maintaining community interest and engagement • Beyond 58 laws – other areas of law, relationship recognition through registry, civil unions and marriage