He's marched at Mardi Gras with Anthony Albanese, teamed up with Penny Wong to champion equality, and congratulated Kevin Rudd on a change of heart - and now ACT Labor politician Andrew Barr believes the new federal leadership team could win seats by campaigning for marriage equality.
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The pro-marriage equality trio of Rudd, Albanese and Wong emerged as the three winners of federal Labor's leadership spill on Wednesday night, and mark a significant sentiment shift for the party away from same-sex marriage opponents Julia Gillard and Wayne Swan. A member of the Rainbow Labor wing of the party and ACT Deputy Chief Minister, Mr Barr has long been a champion of gay rights within the Labor Party, and moved the motion to change the party's platform on the issue at a national conference in 2011.
The motion was seconded by Ms Wong, who is now Senate leader.
Last month, Mr Rudd came out in support of gay marriage, as the result of a "personal journey".
"I'm very much encouraging Prime Minister Rudd to take that leadership role. I think at the time he made his announcement when he was on the backbench that he'd changed his view, I indicated strong support and congratulated him for that, and I hope that he will carry that through," Mr Barr said.
Mr Barr called on Mr Rudd to make the issue part of Labor's campaign for the election and said it could push the party over the line in some electorates.
"I certainly hope Prime Minister Rudd will make this an issue and a point of difference between himself and the Opposition Leader. I suspect that taking such a stance will, in fact, lift Labor's primary vote," he said.
"I very strongly encourage him to make this part of his campaign to re-engage with young Australians in particular. I certainly think it will assist the Labor Party in winning more support from LGBTI [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex] Australians and their families and friends. It's a big constituency, and could well be the difference in terms of winning a number of seats in the lower house."
Mr Barr said the federal change would strengthen the ACT's push for legislative change within the territory, but ultimately the issue should be taken up at a federal level.
Also on Wednesday night, the United States Supreme Court ruled an anti-gay marriage law, the Defence of Marriage Act, unconstitutional.
Mr Barr said this indicated a worldwide shift towards marriage equality.
''Everywhere where there's movement on this issue, it makes the Australian position seem even more absurd,'' he said.
Marriage equality groups are hoping the issue will gain more attention during the election campaign.
Australian Marriage Equality national director Rodney Croome said Labor's new leadership pointed towards a ''new chapter'' in the marriage equality debate, and said with the US decision Australians had ''two great reasons to celebrate''.
''Kevin Rudd's support for marriage equality will be a key point of difference with Tony Abbott, increasing pressure on Mr Abbott to allow a conscience vote and bringing marriage equality to the centre of the federal election campaign,'' he said.
Equal Love Canberra spokeswoman Ivette Madrid said the group would be taking part in rallies in the lead-up to the election to raise awareness of the issue. ''This is going to happen, it's just a matter of being patient and waiting for the right people to be in position of power, and also to really listen to the community,'' she said.
''We have people convinced that this was an election issue throughout this year … We know that some people are going to vote particularly on this issue.''