North Sydney Council supports marriage equality for Australia

AN emotional plea from a gay resident has moved North Sydney Council to send a positive message of support for marriage equality in Australia.

Couple Nathan Thomas and Maikol Nobrega are campaigning for marriage equality. Picture: Supplied

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NORTH Sydney Council is supporting the drive to bring marriage equality to Australia.

The issue was on the agenda at Monday night’s meeting and it generated a debate in the chambers.

Cremorne resident Nathan Thomas addressed the councillors and spoke about why it was important for them to back the campaign.

“Growing up gay is a very difficult thing,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s gotten a lot better over the years but it is very difficult.

“Sometimes if Maikol and I are holding hands down the street people call out of the car and say pretty nasty things.

“If the council publicly supports the motion and supports marriage equality it just provides another positive message and that’s to gay and lesbian couples in the area.”

Marriage equality was on the agenda at council on Monday night.

Mr Thomas said almost 50 councils had so far publicly pledged to support marriage equality.

He has lived in the area for 17 years and met his partner Maikol Nobrega at the Firehouse Hotel.

He described how it was “love at first sight” for him and that they recently bought a home together.

“Why is it important for us to marry or to have marriage equality?” he said.

“It just goes back to family.

“In our family when we love someone and we want to spend our life together we choose to marry that person.

“That’s something we have as a family tradition.”

The motion was passed unanimously after the councillors debated the details of what would be included.

Liberal MPs Warren Entsch and Trent Zimmerman at a recent marriage equality event in Canberra. Picture: Kym Smith

There was no dissent unlike scenes at neighbouring Willoughby Council when a similar motion was passed.

Cr Tony Mustaca said marriage equality was against “nature’s law”.

North Sydney Council will write to the Australian Marriage Equality campaign stating its support.

It will also write to North Sydney federal MP Trent Zimmerman.

Mayor Jilly Gibson said: “Whilst marriage equality is not necessarily a local government matter tonight we can choose to make it one.”

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