Warrnambool City Council's historic decision to support marriage equality has been commended

Councillor David Owen moved the motion, saying marriage equality would save lives.

“Statistics show that 30 per cent of headspace referrals nationally are lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and/or intersex) young people,” he said.

“Today, LGBTI people are suiciding and self-harming because they don’t feel like they belong.

“These young people are more likely to experience higher rates of drug and alcohol abuse due to depression and anxiety. According to Beyond Blue, the mental health of LGBTI people is among the poorest in Australia.”

Data from Warrnambool’s headspace counselling service shows 107 young south-west LGBTI residents are currently using the service.

There has been 47 new clients using the service over the past financial year. 

Brophy Family and Youth Services SAFE in the South West Coordinator Lyn Eales said it was a “safe and much-needed service”.

The SAFE in the South West project supports young people in the community aged 12 to 25 who are gender diverse.

The project has also been working with the wider community to support inclusion.

According to the National LGBTI Ageing and Aged Care Strategy people of diverse sexual orientations, sex or gender identity account for about 11 per cent of the Australian population.

The 2016 census counted 46,800 same sex couples across Australia, 39 per cent more than 2011.

An poll on The Standard’s website this week found 992 respondents out of 1440 supported marriage equality.

Ms Eales said the decision by the council to support marriage equality on a local level was a win for all members of the community.

“The council’s decision was ground breaking,” she said. 

“To discover the motion was being put forward made our jaw drop.”

She said it was not often she was moved to tears.

“The whole council chamber felt very inclusive,” Ms Eales said.

“Community members felt very safe awaiting the vote. I have been contacted by many community members in support of the decision.”

Brophy chief executive Francis Broekman said the council’s decision was momentous, especially in a rural area.

“We definitely want to acknowledge the leadership shown by the council,” he said.

“The more leaders that are prepared to come forward the better.

“It is something that is important to a lot of people.

“This shows we can all be together and live in a safe and flourishing community.”

South West Coast MP Roma Britnell has previously voiced her support for same-sex marriage.

Wannon MP Dan Tehan said he was personally opposed to same-sex marriage when questioned ahead of the federal election last year. 

WHEN Warrnambool City Council voted to show its support for marriage equality, it also voted to encourage neighbouring councils to do the same.

Within days of Cr David Owen’s motion being passed, Moyne Shire’s Cr Jordan Lockett indicated he would be raising a similar motion with his fellow councillors, a majority of whom offered measured support for the idea of same-sex marriage.

At Corangamite Shire, four of the seven councillors said they would be open to exploring a similar motion.

Word of Warrnambool’s move is spreading through the south-west.

Southern Grampians Shire mayor Mary-Ann Brown said she had spoken to Warrnambool mayor Kylie Gaston about the motion.

“I would be happy to have that discussion around the council table,” adding that she is in favour of same-sex marriage.

Cr Brown said the LGBTI roadshow had visited Hamilton recently, and the town had also hosted a gay pride footy match.

“The overwhelming response has been positive,” she said of the gay pride game.

Southern Grampians’ Crs Colin Dunkley and Greg McAdam said they would treat such a motion like another motion, while Crs Cathy Armstrong, Katrina Rainsford and Chris Sharples were unavailable for comment.

But Cr Albert Calvano was effusive in his support for the motion, saying “if a motion was put to council regarding marriage equality I would support it”.

“By becoming more inclusive we will eliminate divisions and segregation within our communities,” Cr Calvano said. 

“On June 17 when Hamilton held the Pride & Inclusion Day at Melville Oval it brought home the message it doesn't matter who you are, let's all accept one another for what we are. I'm happy to see this issue be brought to (council) so we can lead the federal government to a final respectful, inclusive decision.” 

At Glenelg Shire, Cr Karen Stephens said she would be “quite happy for (a similar motion) to be put on the table”, while Cr Robert Halliday said he was not opposed to same-sex marriage, but would prefer they were called “unions” or something else because he believed the word “marriage” should only relate to a man and a woman.

Crs Gilbert Wilson, Geoff White, Alistair McDonald, Chrissy Hawker, and mayor Anita Rank could not be reached for comment.

A story in Thursday’s Standard implied a marriage equality motion would likely succeed at Moyne Shire, but councillors said they needed to see the motion’s wording before supporting it, no matter their stance on marriage equality.

Robyn Lake and Robyn Evans would love to be able to get married on their 25th anniversary in December in this year.

The Warrnambool couple congratulated the city council on its decision to support marriage equality, and have hope one day they may be able to tie the knot.

The pair met in Melbourne, at a trivia night at the Fitzroy Town Hall.

“I was with a friend, and we didn’t have enough for a team, and Robyn was with a team and they didn’t have either, so we were told to go and sit together,” Ms Evans said.

“We ended up sitting together on a table, and that was the end of that.”

They had planned to marry on their 25th anniversary, but currently won’t be able to do so.

“We decided if it became legal we would get married,” Ms Lake said.

“We sort of thought maybe we wouldn’t, because after so long is there really any point, but then we thought about it and a lot of people are fighting hard and putting so much work into it. It’s also really good for some of the young people to see that there are older couples who have stood the test of time, so we thought we should.”

The said they had received plenty of support

“Lots of people have asked if they could be the celebrant if we got married,” Ms Evans said.

“It was amazing. We want it to be an act of parliament, not the plebiscite. The public shouldn’t have a say on whether I get married or not. Not everyone wants to get married, but they should have the choice.”

Their advice for other young LGBTI people is simple.

“Be happy, be proud of yourself, enjoy your life. Don’t worry. People are always going to be negative about something in this day and age. We are having a lovely life, and really, what other people think of us doesn’t matter.”