Council flying the flag for marriage equality

Newcastle City Council will support this weekend's Yesfest event to back the 'yes' vote in Australia's national marriage law plebiscite before hoisting rainbow flags above Civic Park next week.

Council has partnered with the Newcastle LGBTIQ Alliance to support the YESfest picnic in King Edward Park from 11am-2pm on Sunday.

The free event will see prizes awarded for the best themed-picnics and include music, lawn games, art activities and speeches by young local LGBTIQ people.

"I'm proud to lead a council that supports the right of all Australians, regardless of their sexuality, to marry," Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.

"Sunday's picnic is about showing members of the local LGBTIQ community that our city stands beside them in supporting their right to marry the person they love.

"We'll host a stall on the day and support the event before raising rainbow flags above Civic Park on Monday as a powerful statement that Newcastle is a progressive city that stands up for the rights of all people."

The Lord Mayor will host a flag-raising ceremony in Civic Park on Monday at midday.

Flags will be raised on six poles lining King and Darby streets until results from the national plebiscite are due on 15 November.

Rainbow flags will also be raised at other Council sites across the city and be offered to local businesses for them to hoist.
Members of the community are also welcome to attend Monday's noon ceremony.

Last month, almost a year after unveiling a rainbow-walk in Islington Park, Council voted in favour of a Lord Mayoral minute recommending five measures to support the right of same-sex couples to marry.

They included reaffirming the city's commitment to marriage equality in correspondence to federal political leaders, an advocacy campaign supporting the 'yes' vote as well as a community event and banners and flags.

See the recent release on council's support of marriage equality