Australians have voted in favour of legalising same-sex marriage in a historic non-binding poll.
The vote showed 61.6% of people favoured allowing same-sex couples to wed, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said.
The poll had 79.5% participation of eligible voters.
The final polls had been showing a win for the ‘yes’ campaign today, predicting a 63% yes vote and a 37% no vote.
The showing for the campaign to introduce equal marriage was below the latest prediction but still commanded a huge lead above the ‘no’ vote, leaving parliament under extraordinary pressure to reflect the will of the people in legislation.
Today’s result does nothing to force the Australian Parliament to introduce same-sex marriage. The ‘referendum’ was – in fact – never any such thing.
In truth, it was little more than a souped-up opinion poll with no political mechanism for legislative change attached, but the great majority of the Australian people have now expressed their opinion with such a loud and clear voice that the Sydney Opera House shook, Uluru hugged Ayers Rock and the kangaroos were blown from the top of Mount Kosciuszko…it will be hard for even the most staunch traditionalist to prevent change.
The response on Twitter has already been huge in the hour following the victory, with #Marriage equality and #Australia trending worldwide. Pride In London couldn’t contain its capitals:
AUSTRALIA HAS VOTED YES TO #MARRIAGEEQUALITY!!
AUSTRALIA HAS VOTED FOR WHAT’S RIGHT AND PROPER❤️👬
AUSTRALIA HAS VOTED FOR A FAIRER AND MORE EQUAL SOCIETY
THANK YOU AD WELL DONE AUSTRALIA!! #VOTEYES pic.twitter.com/RtsnyMHFeQ
— Pride in London (@LondonLGBTPride) November 14, 2017
While James Mcvey from the Vamps tweeted to his 1.8 million followers:
Incredible news. #MarriageEquality so happy for my friends down under.
— James McVey (@TheVampsJames) November 14, 2017
Out News Global and Diva publisher, Linda Riley summed it up in just three letters:
Yay!!!! https://t.co/dElN57MvN7
— Linda Riley (@LindaRiley8) November 14, 2017
We at Out News Global send our congratulations to Australia for their landslide win for equality, justice and love. The people have spoken and will now demand that their parliament listens.
