Reforms in Ireland a fortnight ago ignited the debate and Leader of the Opposition Bill Shorten brought forward a new bill on same-sex marriage which would see the words “man and woman” changed to “two people” in the Marriage Act.

The Tribune contacted the ‘Hume for Marriage Equality’ group during the week and spokesperson Tom Sebo said they want to bring to the surface the widespread support of marriage equality that, according to him, already exists across the electorate.

They are also calling on Member for Hume Angus Taylor to support the reforms.

“Angus has committed to listen to the views of his constituents, which is great news for the many of us that care deeply about this issue,” he said.

“In the coming days, weeks and months we will be launching a widespread print and social media campaign as well as circulating a petition.”

While the group is currently based in Goulburn, they are keen to link up with locals who are prepared to voice their concerns within the Yass community.

“It has never been more important for locals to show their support for law reform,” Mr Sebo said.

“For years, marriage equality has been largely swept under the carpet; a political inconvenience. Despite polls telling us that the majority of Australians support the reforms, conservative politicians have traditionally voted against; predominantly because it is an issue that doesn’t directly impact upon the lives of almost 90 per cent of the community."

Individuals from the Yass community have also come forward to support the bills including local resident Tanya Henshaw, who has a girlfriend and a nine-year-old daughter.

"It's just insane that, as an Australian citizen, I can't marry the person of my choice simply because of their gender, I can go to another country and do it but I can't do it here and that doesn't make any sense," she told the Tribune.

“I don't know how people can think it makes us a better country to deny a group of people the right to legally recognise and celebrate their union and I just don't think that religion should be involved, except as a layer over the top so it adds something."

Ms Henshaw said she is hopeful that the change will come and her right to marry will eventually come to fruition.

"As a member of society I do everything else that my heterosexual married friends do, I have a child, I work, I pay tax, I register my car and I don't 'gay' register my car, I just register my car so it's not 'gay' marriage, it's just marriage.”

Yass Catholic Priest Father Mick Burke sees it from a different perspective.

"I do have serious objections to what has become a very aggressive move to change what is traditionally seen as marriage," he said.

"It's really the term 'marriage', I believe that they should have legal equality, I don't have an issue with that but I just have an issue with the change of what is traditionally referred to as marriage and of course from a Christian perspective it's been the definition for 2000 years.”

He said he also struggles to deal with the term ‘marriage equality’.

"I even have difficulties with 'marriage equality' because no matter what you're going to do it will always be gay as opposed to traditional and that's where I have the problem ... there should be equality, but not marriage equality."

Mr Sebo said that if Australia wants to see marriage equality in this parliamentary term, the traditionally passive majority needs to assert themselves.

“In order for these reforms to pass the House and become law we need MPs who were previously opponents to change their vote. Angus Taylor has said he’s prepared to ‘sound out’ the community, which means it’s time for supporters to get vocal!

“With a vote this close, your voice could be the difference between these reforms getting up or being voted down.”