Australia votes 'yes' to same-sex marriage
Australians have voted overwhelmingly for same-sex marriage, paving the way for
legislation by the end of 2017 and sparking rainbow celebrations on Wednesday,
with people wearing wedding dresses and sequined suits and declaring "our love
is real."
Australia will become the 26th nation to formalize the unions if the
legislation is passed by parliament, which is expected despite some vocal
opposition within the government's conservative right wing.
Thousands of people in a central Sydney park broke into a loud cheer, hugged
and cried as Australia's chief statistician revealed live over a big screen that
61.6 percent of voters surveyed favored marriage equality, with 38.4 percent
against.
Australian Olympic swimmer Ian Thorpe, who came out as gay three years ago,
said the result was a huge relief.
"It means that the way you feel for another person, whoever that may be, is
equal," Thorpe told reporters at the Sydney celebrations.
The voluntary poll is non-binding but Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull
immediately said he would fulfill a pledge to raise a bill in parliament with
the aim of passing laws by Christmas.
Turnbull played down concerns of a split in his coalition government over the
policy as the conservative faction presses for amendments to protect religious
freedoms that discriminate against same-sex couples.
"It is unequivocal, it is overwhelming. They have spoken in their millions
and they have voted overwhelmingly yes for marriage equality," Turnbull told
reporters in Canberra after the survey results were announced. "They voted yes
for fairness, yes for commitment, yes for love."
The result marks a watershed moment for gay rights in Australia, where it was
illegal in some states to engage in homosexual activity until 1997.
"It's a g'day. Way to go Australia," tweeted U.S. TV host Ellen DeGeneres,
who is married to Australian actress Portia de Rossi in the United States.
Almost 80 percent of the country's eligible voters took part in the survey -
a higher voter turnout than Britain's Brexit vote and Ireland's same-sex
marriage referendum.
Mark Barry, 59, wiped away tears as he took in the result with his partner of
35 years, Gerrard Boller.
"I know a celebrant who is going to be very happy about this," Barry told
Reuters
TURNBULL TROUBLES
Irish-born Qantas Airways Chief Executive Alan Joyce, one of the few openly
gay business leaders in Australia, told the Sydney crowd, many of whom sheltered
from the hot sun under rainbow umbrellas, that the result was "an amazing
outcome" and urged Turnbull to move quickly on legislation.
Turnbull, under pressure amid a citizenship crisis that has cost him his
deputy and the government's majority in parliament, finds his leadership tested
again as the marriage equality bill enters parliament, possibly as early as
later on Wednesday.
The conservatives' planned amendments to the bill would allow private
businesses to refuse services like wedding cakes for same-sex weddings by
objecting on religious grounds.
But political analysts said the resounding "yes" vote presented Turnbull with
his first opportunity in months to exert decisive control. At least one of the
conservative lawmakers has announced plans to switch to supporting the
legislation, given the strength of the public vote.
Nick Economou, a political scientist at Monash University, said Turnbull
"should feel emboldened by the result and this is the sort of thing he has been
looking for to show some assertive leadership."
The 'no' campaign had sought to leverage powerful local religious
organizations in a survey campaign that was criticized by some in the 'yes' camp
as divisive and aggressive.
Catholic Archbishop of Sydney Anthony Fisher said he was "deeply disappointed
that the likely result will be legislation to further deconstruct marriage and
family in Australia."
Source: Reuters
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