Watch: Aussie MP delivers emotional equal marriage speech

Australian MP Penny Wong was brought to tears after receiving a minute-long standing ovation before delivering an impassioned equal marriage speech at the Labor Party’s national conference in Melbourne yesterday (July 26).

The country’s most high profile LGBT politician, who became the first Labor MP to come out publicly soon after her election in 2001, wiped away tears before thanking her colleagues for the reception, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

“That was a very kind thing to do,” Wong said as she took to the podium following a debate on the issue of equal marriage, which is currently gathering momentum Down Under.

The 46 year-old went on to deliver an impassioned plea for equality, saying its supporters will continue to fight “until we win.”

“Many of us were here in 2011 when this party voted to put a commitment in our platform for marriage equality,” she said.

“I don’t think I’ve had a prouder day as a member of the Labor Party and I will be prouder still when we deliver marriage equality in law.”

“There is nothing to fear from equality.”

She continued: “Progress is never easily won. Reform is never easily won. LGBTI Australians deserve equal treatment before the law.

“The aspiration for equality is remarkably persistent. We will continue until we win.

“Marriage equality is a campaign of hope. It is a campaign of justice. It is a campaign of equality, but most of all, delegates – and this is why we will win – it is a campaign for those we love.

“For our partners, for our friends, our sisters, our brothers, our sons and our daughters, I commend this resolution to the floor and I thank you all.”

Wong’s address came on the same day Labor leader Bill Shorten promised to legalise same-sex marriage within 100 days if he is elected prime minister in 2016.

Australia is now the only major developed English-speaking nation not to allow same-sex marriage. A cross party marriage equality bill is set to go before the Australian parliament next month, according to reports, and Prime Minister Tony Abbott, whose Liberal Party remains divided over the issue, is facing increased pressure to publicly back equality.

Same-sex couples are prevented from marrying in Australia due to a ban on same-sex marriage contained within the federal Marriage Act (1961), amended in 2004. Many states grant same-sex couples rights through domestic and civil partnerhsip laws.

Polls have indicated that a majority of Australians support marriage equality, but many politicians – like Liberal backbencher Dennis Jensen, who last month asked whether he should be able to marry his own children if same-sex marriage was introduced – remain opposed.

Watch Penny Wong’s speech in full below:

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