The Dubbo residents are calling on the council to back same-sex marriage despite knowing that only the federal Parliament can alter the Marriage Act.

They point to the almost 40 other councils across the nation and corporations such as Qantas, PricewaterhouseCoopers, SBS and Football Federation Australia that are supporting marriage equality in Australia for reasons such as social inclusion and economic advancement.

The champions are urging Dubbo City Council to be part of a grassroots movement that Australian Marriage Equality (AME) says reminds the federal government that it is "out of step with public opinion".

Through the Daily Liberal the champions have made individual appeals to the council aimed at encouraging it to pass a motion in support of same-sex marriage.

Marriage equality became a hot topic on social media after mayor Mathew Dickerson was told in late March of Buloke Shire Council in rural Victoria unanimously deciding to lobby the federal government in support of reform.

Cr Dickerson argued marriage equality was "almost irrelevant" in Dubbo because not a single resident had raised the matter with him.

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The mayor suggested the council should focus on issues it could control, but left the door open to future debate.

Dubbo woman Kris Stevens promptly sent an email to the mayor, acknowledging "the issue may not have been drawn to your attention until now as it is a federal issue".

But Ms Stevens, who reports of being in frequent communication with federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton, insisted in the email that "marriage equality is very relevant in Dubbo".

She told the mayor that a "conscience vote for equality" was needed in the federal Parliament and aligned proposed reform of the Marriage Act with hard-fought legislative changes allowing women to vote and Aborigines to be recognised as Australian citizens.

Ms Stevens has told the Daily Liberal of her belief that the city's councillors have an opportunity to boost the well-being of Dubbo youth.

"Even if they can't change the law, they could stand up and make a statement that shows they are supportive of everyone in Dubbo," she said.

"That would go a long way to helping kids deal with the issues you face when growing up."

Nicholas Steepe wants the council to "represent everyone" in the community.

"If they passed a motion I would be proud of them for learning about the issue from the community and supporting it," he said.

Mr Steepe called Cr Dickerson's comments "very dismissive" and considered them a way of putting marriage equality into the "too-hard basket".

"I'm not saying that the local council can change the Marriage Act to allow same-sex marriage, but more support behind it, especially in local communities, can make a massive impact and difference," he said.

Ashley Townend is telling councillors that "every bit of support they provide to their community counts".

"Everyone deserves equal rights. By letting gay people get married it's not going to affect anybody in any way at all.

"I know it's only a piece of paper but it means a lot to us to be cast as equal."

Mrs Townend is telling the council that "marriage is about love and not gender".

Lee Berrier admitted that Cr Dickerson's comments "really hurt".

"As a leader of this community he should be representing it as a whole," she said.

"If he was open to the idea, many of us would be willing to talk to him about it."

Ms Berrier said after his re-election as mayor in 2014, Cr Dickerson promised that he would continue to make a "significant contribution" to the city.

"That isn't always about building roads," she said.

"A significant contribution could be jumping on the bandwagon and supporting us."

This week AME applauded Hobart City Council for joining other councils that have willingly strapped themselves to the marriage equality bandwagon.

Hobart city councillors unanimously supported a motion calling for the federal government to allow same-sex marriage.

Rodney Croome, AME national director and the 2015 Tasmanian Australian of the Year, addressed the council before it voted.

"Local government is a tier of government closest to the people," he said.

"It has a duty to represent the views of the community if other tiers of government fail to."

Mr Croome said in particular, local government had a duty to foster greater social inclusion.

"Marriage remains an important bridge between inclusion and exclusion for many people," he said.

"It can represent increased commitment to spouses and bring increased feelings of acceptance by family and community.

"Children of same-sex parents feel happier having married parents and feel more secure and protected.

"Parents of same-sex people feel happier and more included in their community when their children can marry."

Mr Croome expects the list of councils supporting same-sex marriage to keep growing.

The current list includes Albury, Wodonga, Byron Bay, Geelong, Ballarat and Surf Coast.