Let's Talk About...Same-Sex Marriage!
- Zali McKee
- Nov 15, 2017
- 4 min read
It's happened.
It's finally happened.
The Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey results are in...
Australia; you voted...YES!
HALLEI - FREAKING -LUJAH!
Of course, this doesn't mean same-sex marriage equality is legal as of yet. But, it's one step closer into finally having equality and the human decency to let two people who love each other finally be able to marry.
This is honestly ground breaking and amazing. I'm completely shook.
For some of you who may not know really how many actually voted, I'm about to hit you up with the facts you need to know.
7,817,247 (61.6%) of Australia responded Yes to marriage equality, whilst 4,873,987 (38.4%) of Australia responded No.
Here's the end results in each state:
New South Wales:
YES - 2,374,362 (57.8%)
NO - 1,736,838 (42.2%)
Victoria:
YES - 2,145,629 (64.9%)
NO - 1,161,098 (35.1%)
Queensland:
YES - 1,487,060 (60.7%)
NO - 961,015 (39.3%)
South Australia:
YES - 592,528 (62.5%)
NO -356,247 (37.5%)
Western Australia:
YES - 801,575 (63.7%)
NO - 455,924 (36.3%)
Tasmania:
YES - 191,948 (63.6%)
NO - 109,655 (36.4%)
Northern Territory (A):
YES - 48,686 (60.6%)
NO - 31,690 (39.4%)
Australian Capital Territory (B):
YES - 175,459 (74.0%)
NO - 61,520 (26.0%)
For someone who has always voted yes, I knew deep in my heart that the vote would be yes. I knew there were Australians that believed in change. Of course, however, I had the small fear that the vote would end up being no, and honestly, it would've broken my heart if that was the case. But, waking up this morning to the vote was the best way to start my Tuesday...
Plus, sitting and crying, but like, that was happening no matter what.
However, everyone is of course entitled to their own opinion, what you believe in; whether it be with your religion or just your own belief is completely fine with me and I respect you for that. So, if you did vote no, I don't hate you. You had your say and spoke up for yourself, and you have the right to do so.
But, I just don't understand (me, my opinion) how some people can not have a human heart to allow same-sex marriage. Many parents and adults who are in the older generation talk about the risk of teaching about it in schools. High schools I believe is acceptable to a degree, but teaching primary school kids may be a little too far.
Some of course support it who did vote no, but believe it shouldn't be called a marriage, that it should be a ceremony, partnership etc. But, that only ends up with more segregation and people being singled out. That's not bringing people together as one, that's dividing them.
Equality is everyone being equal. Of course, the world will never be completely equal with certain things, there will always be disagreements of how things are run and what laws should be placed. But, same-sex marriage is something that can happen with change.
We changed laws for women to have the right to vote.
We changed laws with no longer separating blacks from whites.
We changed the laws on women working in the same field as men.
Australia, we changed our gun laws after the fatal shooting in 1996 that left 35 dead in Tasmania...
Why can't we change the laws of love?
It baffles me that it has taken this long and has cost a shit ton of money ($122 million to be exact) to finally get the answer we wanted, but we had been telling them for years. Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom and United States have bet us to the punch line.
With all the negativity that is happening in the world, hearing this news is rejoicing and proves there are still some good souls in the world. Bless your cotton socks.
I can now see friends, family and the people I care about finally have the chance to hopefully get the same rights as myself and many others. Thank you to whoever voted yes, you've changed a lot of lives.
So, to celebrate this glorious day, I've complied a list of my favourite songs that resonate with same-sex marriage and anthems for the LGBTQ community. Personally, some of these songs are absolute bops.
1. Love is Love - Alfie Arcuri
2. Same Love - Macklemore
3. No Fear - Greyson Chance
4. Youth - Troye Sivan
5. If They Only Knew - Alfie Arcuri
6. Forest Gump - Frank Ocean
7. She Keeps Me Warm - Mary Lamber†
8. Love is in the Air - John Paul Young
9. I Am What I Am - Gloria Gaynor
10. Born This Way - Lady Gaga
11. Firework - Katy Perry
12. True Colours - Cindy Lauper
Together, we can conquer hate and bring in the love.
I mean, that's what decent human beings do.
Thank you for reading! I appreciate all the support and lovely comments I've been receiving through many different people! Don't forget to share, subscribe and click the heart in the bottom right hand corner!
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