Guidetogay.com

With the recent action in the United States about Same Sex Marriage, Guidetogay.com started to look into those folk who are trying to do something about raising the awareness locally here in Australia. Is the fight for rights just limited to organised groups with logos and banners? Hell no! We caught up with social networking 'activist' Tim Redway - who is not a member of any arranged group, just a concerned member of our community hoping to make a difference.

Gay Marriage has taken a blow in the United States recently - what made you personally want to stand up and do something like this facebook group?

I started recieving information and invites to join causes or groups about overturning prop 8 and I joined a couple. At that point I also decided to do some online research on the topic and while getting carried away with the American experience, I thought, "Hold on, whats happening in Australia? Why are'nt we talking about it or debating it?"

I also remember that Australia, just after Federation was one of the first countries to give women the vote, which also made me think that we are definitely falling behind the rest of the Western world on this subject.

Aside from that, I am not a gay activist, and have never participated in any equal rights rallies, meetings or memberships. I am a regular, professional gay guy who just thought, 'what if?'

I am not even that big on using Facebook!

How do you feel about the current Australian Governments position on same sex marriage?

I'm quite pragmatic about any governments stance on the issue. The fact is that most will go some way to support legal recognition in some form, but none will grant full equality. I don't really think that is often a ministers or MP's personal view, just a collective view because they are too afraid of electoral backlash.

What dissapoints me about that is that in my view, governments should probably leave it out of any election debate, but could move swiftly to bring it in once elected.

Many governments make major changes once in power, with years of office still ahead of them.

The Rudd government, should, in my view, as a left wing government, address this issue. Social equality for them, should include everyone.

Have you had any negative feedback to your Facebook group?

No, and for some reason did'nt think I would or receive any. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

Do you think the gay community really wants same sex marriage ... why/why not?

I think the gay community would like complete equality. I am an athiest myself. But even athiests get married.

What do you plan to do with the group once you hit your targets?

I don't know to be honest. Hand it over to someone who knows what they are doing? (Laughing)

I looked at the numbers of members on the US groups and thought, well, it should be possible to make 1,000 at least. And then I thought, if it gets there, I may as well aim for 10,000.

If it burgeons into something huge, I will contact my local member.

I'm used to taking the lead in life, so perhaps I will find myself fronting something that if you had asked me 6 months ago, would I ever do, I would so, absolutely not.

Let see.



You can join Tim's Same Sex Marriage Group on Facebook by clicking on the link on Guidetogay's facebook group page.