"STRAIGHT allies" of Dubbo's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) community don't see their lives changing if their friends are legally permitted to enter into same-sex marriage in the future.
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Heterosexual residents of Dubbo with nothing to gain from reform of the 1961 Marriage Act visited the office of the Daily Liberal this week, revealing they are unperturbed about what lies ahead.
Amber Knee, 21, a mental health sector worker, summed up their sentiments.
"Same-sex marriage is not going to change our lives," she said.
"Most people won't even notice that it has happened.
"It's something for the gay community to really feel like they are part of the community."
Luke Jenkins, 22, brother of marriage equality advocate Nicholas Steepe, was certain that life would go on as before for his family, including his girlfriend of six years and their 10-month-old son.
"It's going to have no effect on my life, except for the fact that if my brother wants to get married, he can get married and be happy," Mr Jenkins said.
"If you let two people who love one another get married, that's going to make their lives a lot better and shouldn't we be happy that other people are happy."
Matthew Bernard, 30, a floor installation sub-contractor, can't see any downside to his gay friends marrying.
"They should be allowed to marry who they want to marry," he said.
"Love is love, isn't it."
Mr Bernard suggested that marriage reform could make for happier communities.
"If two people love each other and they can't express it by getting married, it's just going to be a not-so-happy part of the community," he said.
The trio concurred that the federal government should waste no time in reforming the Marriage Act.
They also had advice for Dubbo City Council, currently being lobbied to show support for marriage equality.
Ms Knee said the council was pushing the issue of same-sex marriage "to the side" and comments by mayor Mathew Dickerson had distressed members of the LGBTI community.
"They just want someone to stand up and say 'We didn't forget about you and we include you in the community as well'," she said.
"It would be nice for the council to say something, maybe have a vote or just even talk about it."
Mr Jenkins told the council that "it's not that hard to let people love each other" while Mr Bernard suggested civic leaders should "make a decision one way or the other".
"At least people know then," he said.
