The guide is designed to protect the health and wellbeing of LGBTIQ-parented families.

Rainbow Families, an organisation that provides a network of support to children and families within the LGBTIQ community of NSW, has launched a support guide for the upcoming plebiscite on marriage equality.

The Plebiscite Guide is designed to protect the health and wellbeing of LGBTIQ parented families during the debate and campaign.

Concerning the highly divisive debate for marriage equality, in which same-sex and gender diverse parented families will be targeted, the guide provides useful and practical information.

Rainbow Families has fully funded the Plebiscite Guide as the start of its marriage equality resiliency campaign. The campaign is designed to minimise the harm a national debate will cause to LGBTIQ parented families.

Co-chair of Rainbow Families Justine Maguire-Scarvelli highlighted how the campaigns seen in Ireland placed families at “the forefront of the debate.”

“LGBTIQ parented families, and in particular the children, will be vulnerable to the harmful and hostile attacks of the ‘no’ campaign," she said. "The fact that there have already been calls for anti-discrimination laws to be suspended during the campaign tells us just how ugly the debate is likely to become.”

The organisation is calling on the Federal Government to resolve marriage equality by listening to the 70% of Australians who are in favour of it.

Ms Maguire-Scarvelli stated, “Our families and our relationships should not be subject to a popular vote following a divisive and damaging campaign. We’re still hopeful the Government will see reason, but given $160 million has been allocated to the plebiscite in this week’s federal budget, we are also realistic. We are ready to support the wellbeing of our community.”

The guide was launched at the Rainbow Families event for International Family Equality Day. It includes a clear explanation of the plebiscite, tips for taking care of yourself and your family, and useful contacts for anyone needing extra support.

Rainbow Families plans to launch further initiatives in the lead-up to the plebiscite to inform, educate, and support rainbow families.

Printed copies have been distributed throughout Rainbow Families’ NSW Network.

Digital copies of the guide can be found here.