Australian Marriage Equality Lobby Group Study Notes

These vocabulary flashcards cover the history, strategies, and outcomes of the Australian Marriage Equality lobby group's campaign to amend the Marriage Act.

Australian Marriage Equality

A promotional lobby group founded in 2004 with the main goal of changing the Marriage Act so same-sex couples could legally marry in Australia.

Promotional lobby group

A type of group that exists to benefit the greater good, such as promoting equal rights or non-discriminatory principles.

Rallies and Protests

A strategy involving large-scale marches and public gatherings used to demonstrate high levels of visible support and attract media coverage to increase political pressure.

“Day of Action” events

Coordinated national gatherings organized by Australian Marriage Equality to keep pressure on Parliament for marriage rights.

Lobbying Parliament

The strategy of meeting with MPs and Senators to persuade them to support legislation by providing research, statistics, and personal stories.

2017 national postal survey

A public vote held by the Australian Government where $61.6\%$ of Australians voted "Yes" in favor of legalizing same-sex marriage.

Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Act 2017

The legislation passed by Parliament that officially changed the legal definition of marriage in Australia.

Old definition of marriage

Defined in the Marriage Act prior to 2017 as "The union of a man and a woman."

New definition of marriage

The revised definition established in 2017 describing marriage as "The union of two people."

9 December 2017

The exact date same-sex marriage became legal in Australia following the passage of the Marriage Amendment Act.