A national poll has found that 75 percent of Australians believe same-sex marriage in Australia to be inevitable.
It comes as the marriage equality Facebook page clicked over more than 100,000 members.
Australian Marriage Equality (AME) national convenor Alex Greenwich said the poll gave hope to supporters of marriage equality.
“The majority of Australians who support full legal equality for same-sex couples will take heart from this poll because it shows the tide of history is running towards equality and nothing can turn it back,” Greenwich said.
“Our plea to the nation’s leaders is to get on with this reform instead of unnecessarily prolonging a debate which threatens to create more division and pain the longer it goes on.”
National polls show around 60 percent support for marriage equality, indicating nearly half those opposed to reform accept it will happen.
The latest poll was conducted by Galaxy research and commissioned by AME and Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG).
On the proposition that same-sex marriage was inevitable, 80 percent of women said it was, as did 79 percent of under 50s and 78 percent of people with young children.
Greenwich said this contradicted claims by those who said same-sex marriage would be detrimental to families.
“Australians and particularly Australian parents recognise this debate is about providing recognition and protection to couples whether they are opposite-sex or same-sex,” Greenwich said.
“It shows parents want their children to be treated equally regardless of whether they are gay or straight.”
The results are similar to a University of Queensland study that found three out of four Australians would accept a gay or lesbian neighbour while one in four would not.
“There will be a core group of people whose minds we’re not going to change,” Greenwich said.
“All we can say to them, if they are people of faith, is that under the proposed legislation every church would be able to interpret marriage however they like — it just wouldn’t impose the beliefs of the Australian Christian Lobby and other conservative elements on civil celebrants and other churches.”
PFLAG national spokeswoman Shelley Argent (pictured) welcomed the polling.
“Australia is ready for equality for our gay and lesbian children, so it’s time for political leaders to act,” Argent said.
Argent has just launched a new TV ad campaign to be broadcast nationally where she is decorating her son’s wedding cake, which she says she is “concerned we may never get to eat”.
“I’m ready and so is the cake”, Argent says. “So, please Julia … allow my son the emotional security and instant respect that comes from marriage.”
This is all good news … unfortunately Australia is going to Labor on the issues for a while to come. If you care about Same Sex Marriage, think about sending the ALP a message similar to the one they are sending same sex attracted people and their friends, and vote for a truly progressive party or independent.
Come on australia !!! time to catch up with the rest of the world !!!!
Australia will give Same-Sex couples equal access to the law within 10 years. Those that stand against this will be confined to the narrow corners of history as those who supported the White Australia Policy.
In the end academics will say, people wanted the right to live as freely as the next person. They did not want race or sexuality to be a barrier to equal treatment before the laws of Australia.
I dispute results of so called surveys. We are constantly fed with lies that such and such a percent of people polled for this and thus voted in favor of or not in favor of whatever the issue. Most of us have no knowledge of any survey having been carried out. It appears the media can feed us anyuthing. Special interest groups can advise the media of such and such and if the various outlets publicise what is put in front of them the population is easily misled. Of course there is a push for same sex marriage by a percentage of the population. No denying that. But absolutely nobody knows the precise percentage of those for or against such a proposition. The devil is a liar. The devil is the prince of the power of the air. The deeiver and our adversary. S dont go saying that 75 percent of Australians are in favor of same sex marriage because it simply is not provable. Given thaT MARRIAGE BY DEFINITION IS MAN AND WIFE, TRY USING DIFFERENT WORDS SUCH AS SAME GENDE unity or conformity or sanctioned relationship or whatever. Yoou cannot expect acceptance of marriage being anything other than marriage. False argument. Waste of resources. Not worthy of pursuit.
noone has the RIGHT to deny two people their wish to be married.
its discusting the amount of negotive feedback given on these sites.
ive grown up around homosexuality, in this day and age we all know someone in a sam sex relationship.
dont deny yourself this, we all know someone.
using the ‘definition’ of marriage as a back up on your argument, are you that stupid?
we are all brought up to be equals. yes?
marriage is about love and commitment.
i know more long lasting sam sex relationships than i do the stereotypical ‘correct’ man and women relationship.
you are at a loss in your life if you feel equality isnt for everyone.
i want to know that when i have children, if he/she grows up knowing they are homosexual, that they are able to have a wedding
not a different cerimony, i feel no different about this.
it sickens me.
those with negotive feedback should keep their thoughts to themselfs. you obviously dont get out much if you feel being gay is wrong.
i pitty you.