The Gay & Lesbian Rights Lobby (NSW) has expressed its disappointment over today’s defeat of the Same-Sex Marriage Bill 2013 in the Legislative Council.

“It is extremely disappointing that the majority of NSW upper house MPs failed to seize the chance to further recognise the rights of same-sex couples, and instead chose to continue to deny those couples the opportunity to get married, in contrast to their opposite-sex counterparts,” NSW GLRL convenor Dr Justin Koonin said.

The defeat of the Same-Sex Marriage Bill 2013 increases pressure on the Federal Parliament to pass marriage equality, as quickly as possible.

“The result of this vote means that the onus is now squarely on the Prime Minister, the Hon Tony Abbott MP, to support a conscience vote within the Federal Coalition,” Dr Koonin said.

“We call on all Federal MPs, from across the political spectrum, to support the fundamental equality of all Australian couples, irrespective of sexual orientation, gender identity or intersex status.”

The GLRL also called on the LGBTI community to continue the ongoing fight for its rights, despite the latest setback.

“This is not the end of the campaign for marriage equality. The GLRL, other community groups and people from right across the LGBTI community, will continue to fight for the right of all couples to get married, and we will keep fighting until we have won,” Dr Koonin said.

The NSW GLRL also expressed its gratitude to the efforts of the Cross-Party Working Group of MPs who worked to bring the Same-Sex Marriage Bill 2013 to today’s vote.

“On behalf of the gay and lesbian community, I would like to express my thanks to Penny Sharpe (ALP), Bruce Notley-Smith (Lib), Trevor Khan (Nat), Mehreen Faruqi (Green) and Alex Greenwich (Independent), for all of their efforts in bringing this legislation as far as they could, and we thank them and all MPs who voted for the Bill for standing up for gay and lesbian couples across NSW,” Dr Koonin said.