Bumper Sydney rally for gay marriage

[caption id="attachment_221683" align="aligncenter" width="597"] Part of the big crowd at a gay-marriage rally in Sydney yesterday[/caption]

More than 20 000 people protested in Sydney yesterday urging the legalisation of same-sex marriage, days ahead of a contentious postal survey on the issue that has divided the country.

Organisers said the gathering was Australia’s largest gay rights demonstration, as a diverse range of people clad in rainbow colours converged on the heart of the city to insist on equal rights.

“We’re blown away by the response,” Cat Rose, from Community Action Against Homophobia, said.

“The force we’ve shown today puts us in good stead to win this battle over the next months.”

Though the postal ballot is non-binding, a “yes” vote is expected to lead to the legalisation of same-sex marriage which could further fracture the government of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

Ballots will be mailed out from tomorrow, with a result expected some time in November.

The country’s opposition leader, Bill Shorten, said it was the law that had to change, not the gay community.

Australia is one of the only developed English-speaking countries not to have legalised same-sex marriage, despite strong popular support.

-Reuters