Wear It with Pride Promotes Awareness of Same-Sex Law Reforms

The reforms actually came into effect in the early 2009, spanning areas like immigration, employee entitlements and child support and retirement, all of which heterosexuals usually take for granted.

Both gay and straight personalities attended the launch, including Ruby Rose of MTV, director/actor/choreographer Noel Tovey, radio personality Geoff Field, performer iOTA, singer Natalie Bassingthwaighte and Professor Kerryn Phelps, former head of the Australian Medical Association.

Graeme Innes, who was the Australian commissioner for human rights when the reforms were being negotiated, told ABC News that the reforms meant nothing unless more people were aware of them. However, both Field and Professor Phelps, whose partner resigned from her job due to workplace discrimination, were frustrated that the reforms stopped short of allowing same-sex marriages to take place in Australia.

Professor Phelps found it particularly incongruous that Australia seemed "hell bent in the opposite direction" compared to countries like Canada, Spain, the UK, the Netherlands, Germany and South Africa, which had all taken steps towards legalizing gay marriages or civil unions.