TOURISM Port Douglas Daintree (TPDD) Board Member and President of Tropical Mardi Gras Cairns, Ben Woodward, is making a strong stand in favour of same-sex marriage by staging a Same-Sex Marriage Expo as part of the annual festival this month and next.

Tropical Mardi Gras celebrates the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBT+) communities, at various venues across Cairns and Tropical North Queensland, from 30 September to 9 October. Now in its 10th year, Tropical Mardi Gras has become the largest LGBT+ pride festival in Northern Australia.

Tropical Mardi Gras President Ben Woodward said regardless of whether there would be a plebiscite or free parliamentary vote on the matter, change was inevitable.

“Marriage equality is coming, but so is Christmas, so we're not waiting,” Woodward said.

“The reality is, Australian same-sex couples are not only planning to get married, many are already getting married.

“We have couples in Cairns who have been married in New Zealand, Great Britain, Ireland, the United States and Iceland, while others held ceremonies here in Australia in consulates of countries that allow same sex marriage.”

Mr Woodward said several local businesses had already signed up to participate, including a leading five-star hotel.

“The wedding industry has boomed in every country that has legislated same-sex marriage, so we're pleased to see companies coming on board to cater for this change in our region, which many consider as Australia’s wedding capital.”

In conjunction with the Same-Sex Marriage Expo, Tropical Mardi Gras will conduct a community forum on Marriage Equality, with guest speakers and politicians.

The festival also attracts LGBT party revellers from all over the country and the world, with its annual Splash Pool Party, this year featuring DJ Dan Murphy and drag superstar Vollie La Vont at Cairns Hilton on 2 October.

Website: www.tropicalmardigras.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/tropicalmardigras/