The Brisbane City Council has voted to support marriage equality for Australians.

The Brisbane City Council has voted to support marriage equality for Australians.

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk moved the motion Tuesday 17 May, which marked International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.

Quirk stated that his views on same-sex marriage have changed over the past 10 years.

“For me, marriage equality is about a life-long commitment. Marriage is drawn from love and I think everyone who does marry, marries with the intent for life. It doesn’t always work out that way. It’s a tough road, the game of marriage, but it is also an institution that is about absolute commitment for the long haul. So it is my view that every human being ought to have that opportunity.”

The motion to support marriage equality was debated for almost two hours, resulting in 19 of the 25 councillors present voting in favour.

The motion contained two parts, however. The first part, which passed, stated that the council “supports the legislation of marriage between consenting adults regardless of sex, sexuality or gender identity.”

The second part of the motion stated that the council request the Federal Government to “legislate for marriage equality as soon as practicable and that council writes to the Prime Minister to that effect.” This part failed, with 14 votes against the motion, and one councillor identifying religious reasons as the reason he voted against it.

The motion was seconded by Labor opposition leader Peter Cumming who said it was “all about removing discrimination.”