Christian lobby lashes Melbourne councils for same-sex marriage campaigning

A MELBOURNE council wants to paint pedestrian crossings in rainbow colours under a campaign to support gay marriage — but not everyone agrees.

Four rainbow crossings could be painted on St Kilda’s Fitzroy St in the push for same-sex marriage.

PEDESTRIAN crossings in a St Kilda street could be painted in the rainbow colours as councils come under fire for running pro-gay marriage campaigns.

City of Port Phillip will follow the City of Melbourne in lighting up its town hall in rainbow hues and urging residents to support the push for same sex marriage in the upcoming federal postal vote.

Port Phillip, which has been agitating on the marriage issue since 2015, will also use phone on-hold messages to promote the cause.

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Jackson Hitchcock with the Yarra council’s rainbow crossing in 2014. Picture: Richard Serong

It will consider painting four pedestrian crossings on Fitzroy St in rainbow colours.

Port Phillip Mayor Bernadene Voss said that rainbow colours and banners would appear on the council’s website and key council sites, and letters would be sent to state and federal MPs “urging immediate action to make marriage equality a reality”.

“We believe marriage equality is about fairness, not political correctness,” she said.

But Christian lobby the Coalition for Marriage said local councils should be representing the concerns of the whole community.

“For the Melbourne councils, this includes the concerns of parents with the increasing influence of programs like Safe Schools, which will only have a growing influence over the education of their children if marriage is redefined,” a spokesman said.

Four rainbow crossings could be painted on St Kilda’s Fitzroy St in the push for same-sex marriage.

“In making the decision to use ratepayer-funded resources for same-sex marriage activism, the Melbourne and Port Phillip councils are ignoring their many constituents who do not wish to see marriage redefined.”

This week, City of Melbourne voted to support gay marriage through measures like running a message above Young and Jackson Hotel and distributing window stickers to shop owners.

Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said it had been a collective decision by councillors and administrators, but he was happy to lead the campaign.

“It’s very important that our community leaders ... are prepared to take a stand and to campaign quite widely,” he said.

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Lord Mayor Robert Doyle and City of Melbourne will take a stand and push for same-sex marriage. Picture: Michael Dodge/Getty Images

“When there are some people who would like to marry but can’t under law, then we’re not complete.”

Next week, Greens-dominated City of Darebin is due to vote on a motion to give free office space to same-sex marriage campaigners while warning local churches not to campaign against the issue.

Cr Susan Rennie reportedly said the level of debate from the anti-gay marriage side was “disgraceful … and just because people are free to express their views doesn’t mean councils should deliver a platform for them”.

A row erupted in May when a number of Surf Coast Shire councillors pushed for the council to take down the rainbow flag amid views local government should stay out of federal political issues.

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