US President Barack Obama's recent comment that he personally supported same-sex marriage rights fed the confidence of the approximately 1200 Equal Marriage Rights marchers in Sydney on May 12. Even conservative NZ PM John Key has said the same, making Australia's Labor PM Julia Gillard, who says she doesn't support same-sex marriage rights, look very backward indeed. The marchers sat down in Oxford Street while the Rev Karl Hand of the Metropolitan Community Church conducted an illegal same-sex marriage ceremony. The Australian Parliament will be voting on equal marriage rights bills soon.