Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young will speak at a rally for a free vote for Marriage Equality today  at 2pm at Taylor Square, Sydney. Joining the Senator, along with thousands of marriage equality supporters, will be the Deputy Leader of the Opposition Tanya Plibersek, Sydney City Councillor Christine Forster and Rodney Croome, National Director of Australian Marriage Equality.

" I am delighted to be joining thousands of Australian's to show my support for Marriage Equality at the rally today", Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

With Bill Shorten announcing that he will introduce his own marriage equality bill on Monday, and with existing bills from Senator Sarah Hanson-Young and Senator David Leyonhjelm, it is now time for all parties wanting to end discrimination in marriage to work together on a common goal.

The Australian Greens are calling for a cross party meeting to be held on Monday 1 June to discuss strategies that will ensure that marriage equality is secured for all Australians.

Senator Sarah Hanson-Young

The Greens have announced they will bring on a vote for Marriage Equality this year. The Party has set down dates in the Senate for debate to commence and a vote to be held on the Greens Senator Hanson-Young's private members bill currently before the Senate. 

Debate on the Marriage Equality Amendment Bill to commence on 18 June 2015

Vote on the Marriage Equality Amendment Bill on 12 November 2015

SENATOR SARAH HANSON-YOUNG : GREENS SENATOR FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIA & SPONSOR of MARRIAGE EQUALITY BILL

The Australian Greens welcome the historic vote of 'YES' for same sex marriage in Ireland and call on Australia to follow suit.

"The news of a resounding 'YES' vote in Ireland for amending their constitution to extend the right to marry to all couples, regardless of gender,  is fantastic and it is time for Australia to catch up" Greens marriage equality spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

"The Greens will push for a vote on a bill for same sex marriages to be recognised before the year is out

The Australian Senate has called on Tony Abbott to allow all Coalition members a conscience vote on marriage equality.

"The Senate has told Tony Abbott it's time he stopped gagging his members and gave them a free vote on marriage equality," the Greens' LGBTI spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

"Most Australians understand that there is no room for discrimination in Australia and they're just waiting for Tony Abbott to catch up.

"The Greens are ready to work with anyone from any political party to get marriage equality over the line.

The Australian Greens have welcomed the Victorian Parliament's decision to expunge all historic convictions relating to consensual homosexual relationships and have called on other state governments to do the same.

"These men have been forced to live under an unwarranted cloud of suspicion and discrimination. Now, finally, that cloud has been lifted," the Greens' LGBTI spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

"While Victorian men can now move on from these unreasonable convictions, there are many others around the country who aren't so lucky.

An Australian Greens motion*, celebrating Wear it Purple Day and calling on the Australian Senate to back the fight against the bullying of LGBTI youth, has passed today.

"The bullying that young gay and lesbians are subjected to is completely unacceptable" the Greens' LGBTI spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

"With young LGBTI people more than six times as likely to commit suicide than their peers, it's clear that discrimination is still a daily factor of life for Australia's gay and lesbian youth.

The Australian Greens say the MH17 disaster is a horrific tragedy that will reverberate around the world.

"Our hearts go out to the families and friends of all those who have been killed, especially the 27 Australians reported to be on board," said Greens Leader Senator Christine Milne.

"Tragedies like these always touch many more people than we can ever know, but it is shocking news that up to 108 delegates to the 20th Annual AIDS Conference due to be held in Melbourne this weekend were on board the doomed flight.

The Greens have praised Opera Australia for terminating their relationship with an employee who was found to have posted offensive and homophobic comments on social media.   

“We are pleased to see Opera Australia finally took a strong stance on this issue and had the courage and integrity to terminate their contract with Mrs Iveri,” the Greens' LGBTI spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

“There is absolutely no room for homophobia in our society.”