On Saturday, the Republic of Ireland became the first country in the world to vote in favour of marriage equality, by popular vote. 1,000s of Irish ex-pats – both gay and straight – returned home by plane, train and automobile to register their yes vote, as part of an online campaign #hometovote. Some caught the tube from London and Paris which was full of rainbow coloured Irish marriage equality campaigners, some flew from Berlin and as far away as Abu Dhabi and Bangkok. Many of those who couldn’t return home asked their loved ones to vote in their stead, asking for people to #BeMyYes. In the end, in an electorate of just 3 million – less than the population of Melbourne – a huge turnout saw the referendum on same sex marriage pass in a landslide.
It was a historic moment not just for the conservative, staunchly Catholic Republic, but also for the rest of the world as it demonstrated given the opportunity most people will vote in favour of equality. Same sex marriage is now legal in literally dozens of countries – not just Ireland, but the UK, New Zealand, Slovenia, South Africa, Uruguay, Argentina, Mexico, Canada, Portugal, Spain, France, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Germany and many more. Next month, it will most likely also be legal in all 50 states of the US if the Supreme Court hands down the landmark decision it is widely anticipated to.
So the question remains if even a country like Ireland where religion and tradition are still held up as such core values can march towards progress of gay rights, what on earth is still holding Australia back?
If you want the answer, look no further than the gutless wonders in our federal parliament. For his part, Tony Abbott refuses to contemplate a referendum or allow a conscious vote, because he is too busy ripping $100 million out of Australia Council and stopping mums from getting paid maternity leave. Meanwhile, the ALP is still under the thumb of the Shoppies Union.
