The Veronicas Call For Marriage Equality In Direct Message To Tony Abbott

Aussie pop twins The Veronicas have appealed to Prime Minister Tony Abbott in a passionate open letter and video message, asking him and his Liberal MPs to embrace marriage equality in Australia.

The Veronicas — that’s sisters Lisa and Jessica Origliasso — have read their open letter aloud and published the footage online in the hope that Mr Abbott will grant his Liberal MP’s a free-vote on the cross-party Marriage Equality Bill, which is expected to be introduced into the House Of Representatives on Monday, 17th August.

“Prime Minister Abbott — We’re here today, speaking to you in front of Australia and the world, to say we need equality now, we need change now,” The Veronicas say in their video message to Mr Abbott, which can be viewed in full, below.

“We joined the Marriage Equality rally in Brisbane over the weekend and met a number of the courageous souls who are fighting for equality,” The Veronicas say.

“We heard their stories and their struggles. They have not lived without moments, years, even lifetimes of feeling confused, feeling different, scared, or unaccepted.

“We all deserve the equal rights to marry our partners, to be granted equal dignity in the eyes of the law. Love is equal.”

As Fairfax Media reports, Liberal MPs have begun to discuss whether or not they should be allowed a free vote on marriage equality in a party room meeting, after the issue was raised by Queensland MP Warren Entsch today.

The Veronicas, who are proud supporters of equal rights for LBGTQI communities, have recently arrived home from the US, where the Supreme Court has ruled gay marriage bans unconstitutional.

In the aftermath of that news, plenty of Aussie musicians took to social media to celebrate for our US brothers and sisters, while also voicing their anger that Australia continues to sit behind the times.

Catch those posts, the twins’ video message to Tony Abbott and their open letter in support of marriage equality in Australia, below.

Watch: The Veronicas’ Marriage Equality Message To Tony Abbott

Gallery: 22 Aussie Musicians Calling For Marriage Equality

The Veronica’s Marriage Equality Open Letter To Tony Abbott

Prime Minister Abbott,

We’re here today, speaking to you in front of Australia and the world, to say we need equality NOW and we need change NOW.

The conversation for Marriage Equality is no longer a question of IF but now a question of WHEN. Marriage Equality is inevitable!

Prime Minster, when the cross-party Marriage Equality Bill reaches your hands this week, we ask that you grant your party a conscience vote.

We joined the Marriage Equality rally in Brisbane over the weekend and met a number of the courageous souls who are fighting for equality. We heard their stories and their struggles. They have not lived without moments, years, even a lifetime of feeling confused, feeling different, scared, or unaccepted.

We all deserve the equal rights to marry our partner and to be granted equal dignity in the eyes of the law.

LOVE. IS. EQUAL.

Putting the importance of this simple message into political action will have a profoundly life altering impact on our generation, and all generations to come.

We’ve just arrived back from the USA where Same Sex marriage has been legalised in all 50 states. The example set by government is so powerful and so influential, and that’s why we’re speaking to you today.

Mister Abbott, you have missed the opportunity to become a world revolutionary leader on this matter and now it’s time to align with the growing number of governments who have paved the way for us, and not continue our alignment with governments who persist in restricting equal human rights and social progression for its people and country.

Tradition founded upon laws of discrimination and prejudice does not deserve sanctity in the name of history. It’s time to live in a country that recognises all people as EQUAL.

We believe in celebrating a diverse Australia. We also believe as humans we are all inherently connected and that our similarities far outweigh our differences.

We all experience love. We all experience fear. We all bleed the same way.

The LGBTQI community contributes fully to an economic, social and cultural Australia.

Doctors, teachers, musicians, farmers, army personnel, police officers, sports stars, students, tradespeople, journalists, small business owners, large corporation owners, mums, dads and politicians. And even your own sister, Prime Minister.

We are not fighting for special rights; we are fighting for our equal rights.

The precedent set by our government on Marriage Equality will have the greatest opportunity to erase and heal much discrimination often experienced by LGBTQI youths and adults, simply for who they love.

The legal and institutional framework that governs Australia must treat all people equally and we will not stay quiet until we have reached Full Equality for all!

Prime Minister, why delay for another moment the chance to create a more compassionate, more harmonious and equal Australia?

Jessica & Lisa Origliasso, The Veronicas