Australian gay marriage activists are starting 2012 upbeat – believing this year they will achieve marriage equality for same-sex couples.

Australian Marriage Equality (AME) National Convener, Alex Greenwich, said 2011 showed the momentum for reform is unstoppable.

‘It’s clear a majority of Australians support marriage equality, with this acceptance of reform being reflected in 2011's campaign successes, including the federal Labor Party joining the Tasmanian and ACT Governments in formally endorsing marriage equality.’

Greenwich said some of the gains in 2011 included:
* Repeated polls showing a strong majority of Australians, including people of faith, support reform.
* The personal stories of gay and lesbian Australians and their friends and relatives, including Penny Wong, Kerryn Phelps, David Pocock and David Foster, continuing to play a key role in changing hearts and minds.
* Support for marriage equality from a large number of businesses, unions, and non-government organisations
* The Census counting same-sex marriages for the first time.
* The Tasmanian and ACT parliaments endorsing the principle of marriage equality.
* All but one state Labor conference and state Labor leader supporting marriage equality, with the entire Labor Party changing its policy to support equality by the end of the year.

GetUp, which works alongside AME, showed the strength of feeling in November when their video supporting gay marriage was watched by millions around the world on YouTube.

Greenwhich said they now have ‘a real chance to make history’ and has outlined his organisation’s strategy.

He said: ‘In the first three months of 2012 we will focus on securing a Coalition conscience vote and then achieving majority support in parliament.

‘We will do this by sharing the powerful personal stories of couples and families that have already lead to so many people opening their hearts and minds to marriage equality.”

‘We will also provide MPs with irrefutable scientific evidence of the positive impact marriage equality will have in the form of psychological, sociological, and economic studies."

This will include evidence from a world-renowned expert on the impact of marriage equality, US-based economics professor, Lee Badgett, who will be in Australia in February to present her research on the positive personal, social and financial impacts of marriage equality to federal and state politicians.

The Australian Psychological Society released its report backing same-sex marriage in December, saying it reduces stress and suicide.

Greenwhich said: ‘We will widen our lobbying program so that federal MPs can hear from psychologists, clergy, civil celebrants and all those with a story to tell about the importance for marriage equality.’

He said there will be a number of events even before parliament returns, including Prime Minister Julia Gillard's dinner with three same-sex couples at the Lodge on 21 February – the official residence of the Australian PM in Canberra.

There will also be the Equality Dinner campaign fundraiser in Sydney on 25 January, a marriage equality workshop in Wollongong on 5 February and a benefit on 11 February for Rev Matt Glover who was sacked by the Baptist Church for supporting marriage equality. Marriage Equality is also expected to feature heavily in the 2012 Mardi Gras Celebrations in Sydney.

Gillard’s Labor Party has shifted to a more supportive stance on marriage equality. But the Opposition Coalition, lead by Liberal Tony Abbott has taken a difference stance with Abbott criticizing PM Gillard for not sticking to an anti-gay marriage line.

Watch the GetUP pro-gay marriage campaign video here: