Australian Marriage Equality Advocates Back First Gay Wedding Magazine
1 June 2016 at 1:37 pm
Australia’s first gay wedding magazine has received the backing of Australian Marriage Equality.
Groom and Guy, G+G for short, is set to be launched in Melbourne on Thursday and features real wedding stories as well as sections on fashion, honeymoons, tailoring and entertaining for gay couples.
National organisation Australian Marriage Equality, which advocates for equal marriage for all consenting adults, took to social media to say it was a positive step for the LGBTI community.
“Great News! The magazine, Groom + Guy, is incredibly positive for members of the LGBTI community, and we can’t wait until marriage equality is passed so couples across the country will be able to celebrate their joy and happiness with the ability to share this important life moment with their family and friends!” a post on Facebook read.
The magazine, which has positioned itself at the luxury end of the market, said it was shaking things up.
“In no way, shape or form is there anything that matches what G+G is or achieves,” their website reads.
“We are the benchmark, and we have set it pretty high (apologies in advance to our future competitors).
“Our journey has just began and we are already shaking things up. We realise that same sex marriage rights are not yet acknowledged in Australia but couples continue to make the decision to create something truly special to mark their love and respect for one another, even if it isn’t binding in the eyes of the law.
“We want you to be a part of this and we cannot wait to share what we are creating.”
A positive step for LGBTI community and for #MarriageEquality! @groomandguy https://t.co/aqsDdQaj4c pic.twitter.com/Tj2ogKRGd4
— AU Marriage Equality (@AMEQUALITY) June 1, 2016
The launch of the publication comes as Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said this week that he expected a plebiscite on same-sex marriage to be held by the end of 2016 if the Coalition is returned to government.
Meanwhile Labor has said it would hold a parliamentary vote on changes to marriage laws within 100 days of winning government.
Speaking to Pro Bono Australia News in January, Director of Australian Marriage Equality, Rodney Croome, said his organisation opposed the idea of a plebiscite, which he described as “basically a very expensive national opinion poll”.
“I am optimistic that Australians would vote for marriage equality in a plebiscite, but we believe a plebiscite is unnecessary,” Croome said.
“Marriage equality is an issue that really should be resolved in parliament and a plebiscite would cost at least $150 million and would be potentially quite divisive.”
The first edition of Groom and Guy will be available in more than 1,200 newsagents and stores.
Groom and Guy will be published again in November, then quarterly.
