Australia's Historic Marriage Equality Vote Sets the Stage for Legislative Fight

Australians voted in favor of legalizing marriage equality as part of a non-binding national postal survey yesterday.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 61.6 percent of Australians voted to make same-sex marriage the law of the land, and 79.5 percent of Australian voters took part in the voluntary vote––a massive turnout.

Australia's chief statistician David Kalisch said about 7.8 million people voted "yes" for same-sex marriage, with approximately 4.9 million against it. He noted that participation was higher than 70% in 146 of Australia's 150 electorates. "This is outstanding for a voluntary survey and well above other voluntary surveys conducted around the world," Kalisch said. "It shows how important this issue is to many Australians."

Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Supporters and LGBT rights activists took to the streets in jubilation, waving rainbow flags. Many erupted into song and dance.

“This is our proudest moment as gay and lesbian Australians,” said Chris Lewis, an artist in Sydney who spoke to the New York Times. “Finally I can be proud of my country.”

Annika Lowry, who brought her 4-year old daughter to the celebration, also expressed her joy. “It was not just about us,” she said. “It’s for our kids, so that they know equality is important.”

Politicians and celebrities also weighed in.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said Parliament aims to pass legislation by Christmas. "The Australian people have had their say, and they have voted overwhelmingly yes for marriage equality," he said. "They voted overwhelmingly for fairness, for commitment, for love, and now it's our job as the Australian Parliament, all of us here to get on with it and get this done before Christmas."

Turnbull now faces debate in his government over what the parliamentary legislation should include, and those who voted "No" will likely lobby over the wording of that legislation. According to the BBC, some conservative MPs want the legislation "to contain exemptions that would allow businesses opposed to same-sex marriage to refuse goods and services for weddings."

Almost every poll in the past decade has shown a majority of Australians support same-sex marriage. But the vote was not without controversy.

The postal survey followed two failed attempts by the government to hold a compulsory national vote. Both times the Senate voted it down. Many supporters of same-sex marriage also opposed the survey, and urged Parliament to decide the matter.

The survey was also expensive. Estimated costs were around 122 million Australian dollars, or $97 million. The Australian High Court allowed the vote to proceed after activists argued it was an unconstitutional use of tax money.

“After a cost of 122 million, and over two months of campaigning and years of public discussion, it makes no sense to delay a parliamentary debate,” said Dean Smith, a federal senator from the Liberal Party, who is gay himself. “Australians upheld their end of the bargain by voting en masse. Now it’s time for Parliament to uphold its end of the same deal.”

Smith expressed similar sentiments in the days before the vote.

Christian lobbyist Lyle Shelton, one of the "No" campaign's most outspoken advocates, said he would "accept the democratic decision."

“Millions of Australians will always believe the truth about marriage, that it’s between one man and one woman,” Shelton said. “It could take years, if not decades, to win that back.”