Australians overwhelmingly support same-sex marriage, paving way for legislation

World

[ad_1]

SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australians voted overwhelmingly in favor of same-sex marriage in a national survey, paving the way for legislation to make the country the 26th nation to formalize the unions and sparking colorful celebrations on Wednesday.

A marcher holds aloft a sign while participating in a marriage equality march in central Sydney, Australia, October 21, 2017. Picture taken October 21, 2017. REUTERS/David Gray

Thousands of people gathered in a central Sydney park, some wearing wedding dresses and sequined suits, 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 favored marriage equality, with 38.4 percent against.

The voluntary poll is non-binding but Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull immediately said he would fulfill a pledge to put a proposal to parliament to pass laws on marriage equality by the end of the year.

“It is unequivocal, it is overwhelming. They have spoken in their millions and they have voted overwhelmingly yes for marriage equality,” he told reporters in Canberra. “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.

Irish-born Qantas Airways Chief Executive Alan Joyce, one of the few openly gay business leaders in Australia and a major supporter of the yes campaign during the postal survey, told the crowd in Sydney that it was “an amazing outcome” and urged Turnbull to move quickly on legislation.

Olympic swimmer Ian Thorpe, also at the Sydney celebration, told reporters he was extremely anxious ahead of the result.

“It is such an important outcome for so many people right across the country,” Thorpe said. “It means that the way you feel for another person, whoever that may be, is equal.”

The carnival atmosphere continued through the morning in both Sydney and Melbourne, with some people carrying banners declaring “our love is real” and many sheltering from the hot sun under rainbow umbrellas.

Reporting By Colin Packham and Tom Westbrook. Writing by Jane Wardell.; Editing by Michael Perry

Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

[ad_2]

Source link

Articles You May Like

La Principessa Kate Middleton annuncia di avere il cancro
Betlemme, il Caritas Baby Hospital accoglie i primi bambini dalla Striscia di Gaza
Panico turistico, elefante attacca il bus safari: il video
Rosanna Fratello, uscita una nuova versione del celebre brano ‘Se t’amo t’amo’
Coldiretti: a Pasqua 300 milioni di uova nel piatto

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *