Some of the coolest acts in the country are joining forces to show their support for the Yes campaign and the nation’s LGBTQI+ community. They’ve lent their voices to Thirty Days of Yes, a subscription mixtape that will feature 30 songs released over 30 days.
The mixtape features songs from Cub Spot, Hockey Dad, Sui Zhen, Courtney Barnett, Jess Ribiero, Jen Cloher, The Murlocs, and heaps more. It’s also cheap as chips, costing just $15. However, if you want to give more to the cause you certainly can!
All of the profits will benefit LGBTQI+ youth organisations Minus18 and twenty10. That’s money well-spent in my book. Get yours from the Thirty Days of Yes Bandcamp page. And remember to send back those yes postal votes!
I’ve been a passionate supporter of marriage equality for years before we were debating plebiscites and postal surveys. I remember vividly when America granted marriage equality so quickly and decisively thinking perhaps the tide was turning and we wouldn’t be kept waiting too much longer. But here we are, in the middle of a period of Australian history that has unearthed so much hate and bigotry.
The sunny spot though has been the heartfelt messages of support for the Yes campaign, the way that people from all walks of life have banded together and been so vocal in solidarity for this cause. Johnny Rock of Pretty City added his voice and a whole lot of glitter to the Yes campaign recently with his cover of The Beatles “Real Love.” Because spreading a little love when there’s so much hate and anger can only be a good thing.
Johnny hopes to start a movement and encourage other musicians to record their own love song covers to help balance the hateful rhetoric. If you do, make sure to use the hashtag #lovesongsforequality. And if you’re not musical, why not lip sync something?
“I’ve have many friends who have become really upset about the negativity out there. I’ve had friends deactivate their social media accounts because it was all getting too much,” he explained. “You can support your mates with likes and hearts all you want but there’s a point where even the strongest people start to break down. So as a muso I thought I could do something else to not only support marriage equality but maybe ease some of the pain out there.”
So however you can, get involved. It’s a dark time in Australia, but your efforts can make it a little brighter.
The marriage equality debate has reached fever pitch following the U.S. Supreme Court’s historic ruling earlier this week. Elizabeth Rose has added her voice to the conversation with her new single “Division.”
“Australia is tipped as the ‘lucky’ country, but reflecting upon what we stand for, I’m not sure that we are all that we’re cracked up to be,” she said in a press release. “Our peers fall victim to acts of discrimination and are denied the right to equality. For a country that boasts of multi-culturalism and acceptance, why aren’t we accepting of this?
Proceeds from the single’s sales will benefit Australian Marriage Equality. Now isn’t that more useful than turning your Facebook profile picture into a rainbow?
Eli J Hood and Angie Rose Brown of Skyways Are Highways are adding their voices to the marriage equality debate with their debut single “Let’s Run Away”.
The track, which was not so coincidentally released last month on International Day Against Homophobia, reminds us that we should all have the right to run away and marry the one we love, no matter what their gender. And what better way to do that than with a ridiculously catchy melody and a video featuring some hot snogging?
With parliament preparing to take a conscious vote on the issue in a couple of days, let’s hope some of the country’s politicians are listening.
