The "I DO" campaign for marriage equality

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I was disgusted to read this:

THE Australian Christian Lobby has complained to the media regulator about the involvement of Channel Seven's Sunrise program in a campaign for same-sex marriage.

The breakfast news program has joined with campaigners Australian Marriage Equality and GetUp! and marie claire magazine to collect signatures for a petition to legalise same-sex marriage and will broadcast today from pro-gay marriage events in Melbourne and Sydney.

The Christian Lobby has told the Australian Communications and Media Authority that Sunrise's involvement in the ''I do'' campaign is a breach of the Commercial Television Industry Code of Practice, which requires news to be presented impartially.

The partnership with GetUp! and associated advertising on its website ''compromise Sunrise's role as a current affairs program and move it to the realm of overt activism'' the complaint says.

The Christian Lobby has also urged its members to contact the program's sponsors.

Seven's director of news and public affairs, Peter Meakin, said Sunrise, would include all sides of the debate, including the views of the Christian Lobby.

''I admit that we're being a bit provocative in this, but there's no attempt to intimidate the audience into one particular viewpoint,'' Mr Meakin said.

''I think it's less than desirable when people try to stifle debate on an important issue,'' he said.

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Admittedly the relaxed nature of a morning news show like Sunrise may not be the bastion of even handedness on occasion, but to make an official complaint to the Australian Communications and Media Authority is just appalling. Channel Seven has said it would provide both sides of the argument (as in the debate I posted yesterday, btw in which Phelps was called a Nazi by the Christian). It appears the Christian lobby is afraid of the other side of the argument being aired on national telly. Who do they bloody well think they are?

You can sign the GetUp petition for marriage equality here.

We've removed discrimination from our hearts - now it's time to remove it from our laws. The majority of Australians want to end marriage discrimination and believe that same-sex couples should be allowed to wed.

Denying some Australians the right to marry fuels discrimination and prejudice. Marriage equality for all Australians is long overdue.

In just weeks a Senate and a House of Representatives inquiry into marriage equality will be released. And, in a few months, our members of parliament will vote to determine whether or not same-sex couples will be afforded the same legal right to marry.

Sign the petition asking our politicians to vote in favor of reform. And, find out more about our special events in Sydney and Melbourne this Thursday to make sure our MPs know that Australia supports marriage equality.  

And this was a lovely video put together by GetUp about the "I Do" campaign.