A new marriage equality campaign will bring together Tasmanians from all walks of life to pledge their support for a yes vote.
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Next week, Tasmanians United for Marriage Equality will launch its local television and online campaign in the midst of the same-sex marriage postal survey.
Penguin Baptist Church Reverend Ian Carmichael, Wynyard dairy farmers Andy and Matt Jackman, Launceston business leader Ray Mostogl, and Hobart grandmother Elsa Schwan will all feature in the push.
Mr Mostogl said he supported marriage equality not just from a personal and emotional perspective, but also a legal one.
“At the moment we’re in a situation where we’re legally discriminating against a group of people and I think that’s wrong,” he said.
“I’m respectful of religion but I think this is more around a legal obligation that needs to be met.
“My message for same-sex couples in Tasmania is I really hope that the community can respect what you’ve had to deal with so far and be supportive of you, irrespective of the outcome.”
In response to the advertisement, Coalition for Marriage Tasmania spokesperson Karen Dickson said “removing gender from the Marriage Act will result in radical LGBT sex education being mandated in schools”.
“Campaigners are asking Tasmanians to blindly support a change to marriage that will result in loss of freedoms, in particular a parent’s right to decide what sex education their children receive,” Ms Dickson said.
TUME spokesperson Rodney Croome said the campaign would provide a local perspective on the national debate.
“Tasmania became a better place when homosexuality was decriminalised 20 years ago and it will be a better place when we have marriage equality,” he said.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics will announce the result of the postal survey on November 15.