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Content about Alex Greenwich

April 25, 2013
Sydney MP objects to 'hateful extremists' speaking at 'family' conference

Alex Greenwich fights to ensure right-wing 'family values' conference in Sydney next month is hate-speech-free

Sydney MP Alex Greenwich has written a letter to the New South Wales tourism minister asking him to ensure that the 7th World Congress of Families, being held in Sydney next month, does not include hate speech.

The 'family values' conference includes presentations from New Zealand anti-gay marriage campaigner Bob McCoskrie and Dr Miriam Grossman, who believes it is possible to change someone's sexual orientation through therapy.

April 22, 2013
Politicians row about rainbow crossing alternatives in Sydney

Liberal city councillor Christine Forster suggests a large rainbow flag in Taylor Square, independent MP Alex Greenwich says the idea should come from the community

Sydney city councillor Christine Forster is suggesting a large rainbow flag to replace a rainbow road crossing that was taken away by the state government due to safety concerns.

Forster, who is the lesbian sister of Australia's opposition leader Tony Abbott, said to the Daily Telegraph:

April 2, 2013
State Government says Sydney must lose its Rainbow Crossing

Sydney’s Oxford Street gay nightlife quarter will lose its rainbow crossing despite it becoming a local tourist attraction and nearly 15,000 people signing a petition to keep it

The City of Sydney will be forced to spend $35,000 to remove a rainbow flag gay pride crossing on Sydney’s Oxford Street despite the City wanting to keep it and police having no issue with it.

March 13, 2013
American visits Sydney Mardi Gras to seek justice for his brother's death

Touching video of Steve Johnson, whose brother Scott is suspected to have been killed in a homophobic attack in 1988, at Sydney Mardi Gras

Steve Johnson, whose brother Scott was found dead in Sydney in 1988, was at Sydney Mardi Gras this year as part of a campaign to dissolve the mystery around what happened to him before his body was found at the bottom of a cliff in Manly.

Johnson marched with Lord Mayor Clover Moore and MP Alex Greenwich in the 35th Sydney Mardi Gras parade on Saturday 2 March and found the experience bittersweet.

March 8, 2013
Sydney MP reassures community ahead of tonight's protest against police brutality

Alex Greenwich says he has asked for an independent ombudsman to oversee a police investigation into alleged police brutality at Sydney Mardi Gras

Sydney's MP Alex Greenwich has held a press conference to reassure the LGBTI community that allegations of police brutality at last Saturday's Sydney Mardi Gras are being investigated, before tonight's protest about the incidents.

'People are rightly angry about the serious incidents involving police during the 2013 Mardi Gras festival,' said Greenwich.

March 5, 2013
Sydney police filmed in 'brutal' arrest at gay Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras party-goer is seen screaming 'I did nothing wrong!' as a policeman  throws him to the ground

Sydney police are being accused of brutality during an arrest at last weekend’s Mardi Gras.

A video allegedly shot at the gay pride parade shows an unidentified partygoer in handcuffs thrown on the ground by a policeman, who then stands on the man’s back.

The footage does not show clearly what happened immediately before the man is thrown to the ground, and it is not known why the man was targeted by police.

Alex Greenwich, Independent member for Sydney, said the footage is ‘certainly distressing’.

March 4, 2013
6,000 sign petition to make Sydney 'rainbow crossing' permanent

Now the Mardi Gras party is over, thousands want permanent reminder of LGBT history in central Sydney

Over 6,000 people have signed a petition to make a rainbow colored road crossing in Sydney's city center a permanent celebration of LGBT life in the city.

A week ago stripes of red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple were painted over a road crossing in Oxford Street, close to the gay party area of the city, in time for last Saturday's Sydney Mardi Gras parade.

February 26, 2013
Lesbian Sydney councillor argues back to MP's accusation

Christine Forster responds to Alex Greenwich's accusation that she is 'mean-spirited' and not supporting the LGBTI community

Sydney Councillor Christine Forster has explained why she voted against a motion to paint a road crossing rainbow colors to honor the LGBT community.

The city's MP Alex Greenwich said yesterday that the fact that Forster, along with another Liberal councilor and a Living Sydney councillor, had voted against the crossing was 'mean-spirited and showed a lack of respect' for the LGBTI community.

February 25, 2013
Sydney streets painted rainbow to honor LGBTI community

Road crossings in Oxford Street, central Sydney will be painted rainbow colors to honor the LGBTI community

In time for the Mardi Gras festival, road crossings on Oxford Street, in the centre of Sydney have been painted rainbow colors.

The rainbow crossings were proposed by Mayor Clover Moore who got the idea from a similar initiative in West Hollywood.

February 14, 2013
Draft same-sex marriage bill released in NSW for Valentine's Day

Lawmakers from three political parties and an independent give marriage equality hope to gay couples in Australian state of New South Wales

A group of lawmakers from across the political spectrum is giving hope to the campaign for marriage equality in Australia by releasing a draft same-sex marriage bill for the state of New South Wales (NSW) today.

The draft bill will allow same-sex couples in the state to marry and recognize marriages from other countries and states and territories in Australia.

January 30, 2013
Sydney Mardi Gras Museum opens

Museum to commemorate the history of Sydney Mardi Gras opens, but is yet to secure permanent home

The first museum to commemorate the history of LGBT rights activism in Australia has opened in Sydney.

The Mardi Gras Museum features archive materials, such as costumes, photograps and posters from Sydney's annual gay rights festival which started in 1978.

Sydney's Lord Mayor Clover Moore and MP Alex Greenwich opened the museum at a packed event last night.

December 21, 2012
Australian marriage equality advocates send Christmas message

Marriage equality advocates in Australia are encouraging people to talk about the importance of marriage equality when they spend time with their family these holidays

High profile Australian supporters of marriage equality have joined forces to encourage people to talk about the importance of letting gays and lesbians marry when they spend time with family this holiday season.

A new online video campaign by advocacy group Australian Marriage Equality (AME) features Tasmanian Premier Lara Giddings, Labor Senator Louise Pratt, Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, former Australian Medical Association head Professor Kerryn Phelps, independent Sydney MP Alex Greenwich and NSW Greens Legislative Council member Cate Faehrmann.

December 7, 2012
New Aussie MP says parliament is 'pathetic theatrics'

Former Australian Marriage Equality head Alex Greenwich gives his first impressions on parliament from the inside

New independent MP for Sydney, Alex Greenwich, who used to head the campaign for marriage equality in Australia, has said he views parliament as 'pathetic theatrics'.

November 20, 2012
Cross-party group gives hope for gay marriage in New South Wales

Australian state is moving ahead with marriage equality by working across party divisions

A cross-party group of MPs have given hope that same-sex marriage could come to one Australian state, New South Wales (NSW).

MPs from the Liberal-National right-wing coalition, the Labor party, the Greens and an independent (former Australian Marriage Equality national convenor Alex Greenwich) are working together on a same-sex marriage bill.

October 30, 2012
Right-wing newspaper greets gay candidate’s election victory with slurs

Australia’s Daily Telegraph prints article that ‘leaks’ newly elected Sydney MP Alex Greenwich’s ‘party past’

Australia’s Daily Telegraph newspaper greeted the landslide victory of marriage equality campaigner Alex Greenwich with a story that ‘leaked’ his ‘party past’.

The article attempted to disparage Greenwich, who has worked with utmost professionalism as national convenor of Australian Marriage Equality and during his election campaign for independent MP for Sydney, which he won by a wide margin on Saturday.

October 28, 2012
Australian marriage campaigner elected to parliament

One of the leading proponents of marriage equality in Australia has been elected to the New South Wales state parliament, making him the first Australian politician in a same-sex marriage

The campaign to legalize same-sex marriage in Australia has welcomed the election of Australia's first member of Parliament in a same-sex marriage.

Former Australian Marriage Equality (AME) national convener Alex Greenwich was elected on Saturday to the state of New South Wales’ (NSW) Lower House in a by-election in the seat of Sydney.

Greenwich married long term partner Victor Hoeld in Argentina in May this year.

The current convener of AME, Rodney Croome, welcomed his election.

October 2, 2012
Gay candidates tied in lead for Sydney by-election

Poll shows independent Alex Greenwich and Liberal Shayne Mallard both at 31% of the vote, if the election for Sydney MP was called now

Former marriage equality campaigner Alex Greenwich is neck-and-neck with another gay candidate, Shayne Mallard, in the campaign for the Sydney by-election.

The poll comissioned by Greenwich shows his first foray into politics is off to a promising start, after recieving a full endorsement from former Sydney MP Clover Moore.

The results of the poll show that Greenwich, standing as an independent, and the Liberal party's Mallard would both get 31% of the primary vote, with Greens candidate Chris Harris trailing at 25%.

September 20, 2012
Gay marriage campaigner stands for election in Sydney

Alex Greenwich will stand as an independent candidate in the gay capital of Australia

Outgoing MP for Sydney Clover Moore has officially endorsed Australian Marriage Equality’s Alex Greenwich to stand for election to replace her.

‘The Parliament needs a strong independent voice to stand up for the issues and concerns that are important to the people of Sydney, and that is why I am endorsing Alex Greenwich,’ Moore said.

September 19, 2012
Gay marriage bill defeated in Australian House of Representatives

First marriage equality bill defeated in Australia’s House of Representatives, advocate says ‘more MPs have chosen the right side of history than ever before’

A vote on legalizing same-sex marriage in Australia has been defeated in the House of Representatives.

Forty-two MPs voted in favour and 98 against Labor MP Stephen Jones’ Private Members Bill.

Jones told marriage equality supporters to ‘maintain your rage’.

Both the prime minister Julia Gillard and opposition leader Tony Abbott, plus former prime minister Kevin Rudd, voted against the bill.

September 12, 2012
Aussie marriage equality activist considering standing as MP for Sydney

Australian Marriage Equality’s Alex Greenwich is giving ‘serious thought’ to standing for election as an independent MP for Sydney

Over the the last 12 months Alex Greenwich’s quotes have frequently hit news stories as part of his role as national convener for Australian Marriage Equality.

Now he may be making headlines himself as he is giving ‘serious thought’ to standing for election as MP for Sydney.

Greenwich worked alongside current MP Clover Moore in her campaign for re-election as Lord Mayor of Sydney. After a close race, she claimed victory in Saturday’s election.

August 28, 2012
Australian state a step closer to marriage equality

An Australian state could vote on legalizing same-sex marriage as soon as this week, as it prepares to debate a bill on the issue

The Australian state of Tasmania is a step closer to becoming the first in the country to legalize same-sex marriage, with a bill tabled and set to be debated in its Lower House later this week

August 23, 2012
Another Australian jurisdiction to legalize same-sex marriage

Another Australian jurisdiction has announced it will legalize same-sex marriage if the  government refuses to act

Another Australian jurisdiction has announced it will legalize same-sex marriage, while at a federal level, Australian Government senators have introduced their own private members bill to legalize same sex marriage.

The Australian Capital Territory (ACT), which houses the Australian capital of Canberra, today announced it would legalize same-sex marriage at a territory level, joining the states of South Australia and Tasmania who have also pledged to do so.

August 19, 2012
Australian Parliament to begin debate on marriage equality

The Australian Parliament is set to begin debating legislation to legalize same-sex marriage this week, with debate to begin as soon as Thursday

Debate on a marriage equality bill in the Australian Senate is expected to begin as soon as Thursday, after the bill’s author, Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young announced she would use private member’s time to begin the debate.

August 14, 2012
Australian PM to speak at anti-gay group conference

Gay marriage advocates strongly condemn Julia Gillard’s decision to speak at the Australian Christian Lobby national conference

Gay marriage advocates have condemned decision of the prime minister of Australia, Julia Gillard, to speak at a conference for an anti-gay group.

Gillard announced today that she would give the key note address at the national conference for Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) in October.

August 11, 2012
Australian states revolt on marriage equality

The state South Australia looks set to become the second Australian state to legalize same-sex marriage while the territory that houses the Australian capital will restore official ceremonies to its civil unions scheme

A second Australian state government has announced it will move to legalize same-sex marriage at a state level on a day that thousands of protestors marched in cities all over the country calling on federal parliamentarians to deliver on reform.

At a rally in the South Australian capital of Adelaide, state Labor Party leader and premier Jay Weatherill declared his government would support a Greens party bill legalizing same-sex marriages at a state level.

‘I support the principle of marriage equality,’ Weatherill told a cheering crowd of protesters.