Firms ring in campaign for marriage equality

Some big businesses have asked people to wear an ‘acceptance ring’ until same-sex marriage is legalised.

An ‘acceptance’ ring for backing marriage equality.

Some of the country’s biggest businesses have upped the ante in the crusade for marriage equality by asking Australians to wear a specially designed “acceptance ring” until same-sex marriage is legalised.

Led by accommodation provider Airbnb and supported by Qantas, ANZ, Fairfax Media and Foxtel, the Until We Belong campaign has been billed as the “most public declaration for marriage equality” so far.

The initiative calls on Aus­tralians to signal their support for same-sex couples by committing to wearing the ring, created by designer Marc Newson.

Airbnb Australia country manager Sam McDonagh said the campaign would involve the distribution of “hundreds of thousands” of the distinctive black metal rings to its hosts and guests, business partners and “key influencers”.

Qantas staff and cabin crew would wear them, he said, while Google Australia has also provided rings for its 1300 staff to wear. “Our goal is to build ­momentum around the issue of marriage equality and spark those conversations about ­acceptance,” Mr McDonagh said.

The move is likely to fire up the debate about the role of corporations as lobbyists for contentious social causes, which has attracted criticism from some conservative politicians and religious leaders in light of the recent public hounding of brewer Coopers into pledging support for Australian Marriage Equality.

Marriage Alliance spokeswoman Sophie York, who is ­opposed to same-sex marriage, questioned whether people who opted not to wear their acceptance ring would be called upon to explain their decision. She pointed to the recent harassment of a Price­waterhouseCoopers executive and a Macquarie University ­academic by gay activists over their links with a Christian ­institution as a sign of what could happen when individuals failed to comply with the “same-sex marriage agenda”.

“Almost every day, Marriage Alliance hears from an employee who has come under pressure at work to participate in an activity or donate funds to support the push to redefine marriage,” Ms York said.

“Now we see big corporates giving away free jewellery to those who take the pledge, while providing an easy way to identify those who disagree with the company agenda.

“We know activists will stop at nothing — even accessories — to target people for demise.”

Mr McDonagh defended the role of corporations, such as Airbnb, which he said had a long history of championing equality and supporting the LGBTI community. “Openness and belonging is a core part of Airbnb; we strongly believe everyone has a right to marry the person they love,” he said.

According to yesterday’s campaign announcement, Airbnb would make it easy for Australians to get involved by making their support pledge online.

The rings, which fall short of forming a full circle to symbolise the “gap in marriage equality”, would be made available free of charge other than postage.

Qantas and Google yesterday confirmed their support for the campaign, but both said staff would not be under any obligation to wear the rings.

“We usually let our people know when we’re involved with a campaign like this, but there’s certainly no expectation that they will be part of it themselves,” a Qantas spokesman said. “They are welcome to join in, but it’s certainly not a requirement.”

The airline’s intensifying support for marriage equality comes after its chief executive, Alan Joyce, was last month singled out by conservative Liberal frontbencher Peter Dutton in his criticism of CEOs over their involvement in the debate, suggesting that they “stick to their knitting”.

Qantas chairman Leigh Clifford yesterday joined the fray, having taken issue with the accusation of Sydney Catholic Archbishop Anthony Fisher that companies were misusing their authority as well as shareholders’ funds in the pursuit of private social or moral ends. “It’s hard not to be cynical about such a stance,” Mr Clifford wrote in a letter to The Australian. “By this logic, should companies scrap all of their corporate social responsibility programs? Should we not worry about ethical supply chains? Are we overstepping the mark when we raise money for charity? Of course not. And nor should we be expected to be silent on what is a basic civil rights issue.”

The Equality Campaign executive director Tiernan Brady welcomed the campaign for sending a “powerful signal” to the federal government that momentum would continue to grow “in size and determination” until marriage laws were changed. “Two-thirds of the nation, as well as a majority of politicians, want every Australian to be able to marry the person they love in the country they love,” he said.

“It is wonderful to have so many businesses creating this campaign.”