Australia votes YES

This is a #teamaustralia cultural post as part of @ErmesT #teamchallenge https://www.localguidesconnect.com/t5/General-Discussion/Double-the-fun-Showcase-your-country-TeamChallenge-on/td-p/1909622

In 2017 the people of Australia voted via a postal vote plebiscite on the topic of allowing same sex marriage. The lead up to the plebiscite was extremely divisive with both sides getting more and more forceful in their messaging. The far right conservatives and some religious groups were deeply opposed and even disgusted. The most militant of the activists on the Yes side were no better. As is often the way when people become challenged they get loud and pour immense resources into convincing people. The back and forth in the media was incredible. Some people likened allowing same sex marriage as the same as unspeakable things like paedophilia and bestiality saying that if Australia took this step then we would take off down a slippery slope. The Yes side were often just as bad with churches vandalised and protests at religious events.

Fortunately most of Australia was mature and did not fall for the propaganda. When the votes were counted 61.6% of the country had voted Yes. Not everyone voted, around 80% of the eligible people did take the opportunity to have their say. There were high court challenges but the court ruled the plebiscite was legal. The plebiscite had no meaning in law under our constitution, now it was up to the politicians to vote in parliament. Most of them voted to reflect their electorate. The major parties allowed conscience votes and members were free to ignore their electorates plebiscite vote if they wished. Some parties had a yes or no line and expected their members to vote to those lines but not all did.

Soon after the plebiscite result was announced we all wondered what was going to happen next until Dean Smith introduced the Marriage Amendment (Definitions and Religious Freedoms) Act 2017 into the senate. The rest is history, the votes supported the act and it was enacted by Parliament of Australia on 7th December and given Royal assent on 8th December becoming law on 9th of December. At that point Australia stopped holding its breath and the partying began.

This was a huge moment for Australia where we joined the growing list of countries that recognise and perform same sex marriage.

For many on both sides the division, hurts and wounds from the campaign and the aftermath are still raw.

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Marriage_Law_Postal_Survey

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marriage_Amendment_(Definition_and_Religious_Freedoms)_Act_2017

http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/num_act/maarfa2017459/sch1.html

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Thank you @PaulPavlinovich for the post. I thought in Australia it was already a achievement many years ago and not such new.

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Well written @PaulPavlinovich . I will add the link to this post to our intro post.

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Quite recent @TorM end of 2017, we allowed defacto arrangements but not marriage.

Great thanks @JustineE :grin:

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Oh, in 01.10.2017 marriage is allowed in Germany and since 2001 already the official partnership…

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Really enjoyed the post, @PaulPavlinovich !

It sounds the U.S. and Australia have our similarities. I can’t wait to see when all of our 50 states have legalized same-sex marriage and recognized same-sex marriage as well, It divides countries, states, counties, and families here. Raw indeed.

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This is a great piece of history, @PaulPavlinovich , not only for LGBTQ movement, but for everyone. We are far away, on my country, to reach a so important principle of respect. I am talking about respect, because I deeply believe that we should respect, even if not necessarily share, the opinion that others have.

What makes us rich is the diversity, the possibility to have different way of development, different way of thinking, different opinion.

Thank you for this post.

Once again, Australia is a step ahead

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That’s a huge step, well done Australia! I wouldn’t have imagined it was so recent, though. It’s been legal here since 2010 I think and of course it’s done nothing but allowed couples to celebrate their love :heart: (Take that, “conservatives”!) BTW I understand Argentina is also one of the few countries that hosts same sex marriages for foreign couples… thanks for sharing @PaulPavlinovich

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That is close to the same timing @TorM

Fortunately its federal law in Australia that applies equally to all states and territories @JordanSB I cannot imagine how awful it would be if someone nearby could not marry but you could. That would be so divisive in the community. I wonder if people move to be allowed to express their love?

Respect is a very good way of putting it @ErmesT allowing people to live their lives the way they need and want no matter what you believe yourself.

@kroza that is really interesting - glad that its been in place for so much longer than us. Well done Argentina.

Paul

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61.6% of the 80% is significant. When reading your post @PaulPavlinovich I wondered if prior to this law being enacted was the marriage of a same sex couple married in some other country recognised as a legal marriage in Australia?

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No they were not @AdamGT they were recognised as a defacto couple.

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