AUSTRALIANS have voted yes on marriage equality.
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And in the New England, 52.5 per cent of the Australian Marriage Law Survey respondents voted yes.
Speaking from Armidale yesterday, Labor candidate David Ewings used the lyrics of John Lennon to express his support.
“I’m very happy with the result, it’s something I believe in and as John Lennon sang, “all you need is love”,” he said.
However, he said the government has just wasted millions trying to find out what all Australian’s already knew.
New England resident Cheryl Vidulich agreed.
“I do not like the way it was handled, they can marry who they like but it's morphed into a whole lot of other things that are just no good,” she told The Argus in Bradley Street yesterday.
“It’s cost a lot of money all because the government didn't want to make a decision.
“They’re still going to have to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ and they only gave us a vote so no one could say to them ‘you were the ones that did it’.”
Meanwhile Armidale resident Cassandra Arnott is thrilled about marriage equality.
Identifying as a bisexual woman, Ms Arnott said that for her marriage equality is a human rights issue.
“I’m extremely excited, happy, elated – it’s quite an emotional day really,” she said.
Australia needs to celebrate natural human diversity, Ms Arnott said.
“We need to stop seeing it as a tragedy if your son or your daughter is gay or bisexual,” she said.
“We need to remind ourselves that egalitarianism is a big part of who we are and those are our values.
“It’s just heartbreaking to hear stories about same-sex partners not being allowed into ICU or emergency departments simply because their relationships aren’t recognised.”
Now, it will be up to parliament to pass an amendment to Australian Marriage Law Act allowing same-sex marriage. Debate on the legislation is likely to begin today with hopes for it to pass by Christmas.