A national poll has shown 75% of Australians believe same-sex marriages will inevitably be allowed, prompting marriage equality advocates to call on the nation’s political leaders to act now.
Australian Marriage Equality National Convener, Alex Greenwich, said the poll gives hope to supporters of 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”, Mr 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 have consistently shown about 60% support for amending the Marriage Act to allow same-sex marriages, meaning almost a half of those opposed to reform accept it will happen.
The latest poll was conducted by Galaxy research and commissioned by Australian Marriage Equality and Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. It found the following levels of support for the proposition that same-sex marriages are inevitable
– 80% among women
– 79% among the under 50s
– 78% people with young children
Shelley Argent, national spokesperson of by Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, has welcomed the new poll saying, “Australia is ready for equality for our gay and lesbian children, so it’s time for a political leaders to act”
Mrs Argent has launched a new TV ad campaign to be broadcast nationally where she is seen decorating her son’s wedding cake but says she is “concerned we may never get to eat it”.
“I’m ready and so is the cake”, Mrs Argent says, “so please Julia…allow my son the emotional security and instant respect that comes from marriage”.
Mr Greenwich says the ad reinforces the message that Australians want action on marriage equality.
For more information contact Alex Greenwich on 0421 316 335 or Shelley Argent on 0409 363 335
For a copy of the Galaxy poll, click here
To see the advertisement, and to download audio files and high-res pics, click here
To read the interpretation of the poll results from Alex, Greenwich, Shelley Argent and Rodney Croome, click here
To see a summary of polls on marriage equality, click here