ABOVE VIDEO: MPs break into song as same sex marriage bill passes.
A portion of Sydney’s Prince Albert Park will be renamed ‘Equality Green’ in celebration of the landmark 2017 marriage equality decision.
The change, which was originally proposed by co-chair of Australian Marriage Equality and Sydney state independent MP Alex Greenwich, was voted in unanimously today by councillors for the city of Sydney
The Surry Hills location significant the marriage equality movement as it was where 30,000 Sydneysiders gathered on 15 November 2017 to receive the news that Australia had voted to legalise same-sex marriage.
“It's a simple way to mark a beautiful moment of unity and equality, which came at the end of such a hurtful and divisive time for the LGBTQIA+ community,” Sydney City councillor Jess Scully told The Feed.
“I think this passed unanimously because our councillors are other members of this community themselves, or closely connected as allies, family members, friends and colleagues of people in the LGBTQIA+ community.”
Sydney had one of the highest rates of ‘Yes’ votes in the national marriage equality plebiscite with 83.7 per cent voting in favour of the change.
Nationally, 61.7 per cent of Australians voted in favour of marriage equality.
Most of us were there in the park that day to celebrate this moment, so we know first-hand how special that moment was.
The naming proposal was exhibited for public comment from 15 November until 15 December 2018.
In total, 135 submissions were received with 74 per cent supportive of the change.
Thirty-five responses were not in favor of renaming with reasons ranging from “not wanting a reminder of a divisive and painful process”, “being against marriage equality”, and “wanting public parks to be 'neutral' spaces”.
“I think it's only a very small minority in our local area who might object to the name change, I might have received one email objecting to it,” Scully said.
“I think it's the right thing to do, part of our role as local government, to recognise and commemorate big moments in history, and this was one of them.”
Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore also threw her support behind the change commenting, “I am proud we will honour that moment in history, as well as the years of tough campaigning from the LGBTIQ community, in our beautiful Prince Alfred Park.”
The proposal is now with the Geographical Names Board for final approval.
