“I am, you are, we are Australian.”
These were the lines sung by spectators gathered in the Australian House of Representatives moments after gay marriage was officially made legal.
On Thursday, Australia became the 25th country to legalize gay marriage — following in the footsteps of Finland, Malta, and Germany, which have all done the same in 2017.
“This belongs to us all,” Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said. “This is Australia: fair, diverse, loving and filled with respect. For every one of us this is a great day.”
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A week after the bill passed the senate, and less than a month after more than 60% of Australians voted for gay marriage in a non-binding postal vote, just four members of the House of Representatives voted against the bill and 12 abstained, including former Prime Minister Tony Abbott.
Australia had previously attempted 22 times to legalize gay marriage since 2004, but last night had a different feel to it.
Night Night 💤 I hope by the time I wake up gay marriage is legalised in Australia..... Today is the day🤞🏼 #MarriageEqualitypic.twitter.com/5osIQX1KX8
— Luke Shayler (@BoyShayler) December 6, 2017
Gay marriage WILL be legal by the end of the day here in Australia! God help us if we cant do something as simple as legalising LOVE! #MarriageEquality Come on Australia
— isssac (@Ironpuddy) December 7, 2017
On social media, people from around the world chimed in to celebrate the vote:
I just saw that #MarriageEquality just passed in Australia! Congrats to everyone that pushed so hard to make this day a reality.
— Philip DeFranco (@PhillyD) December 7, 2017
Here’s the moment it happened. pic.twitter.com/cyvbJ2obAO
Congratulations Australia on the passing of the #MarriageEquality bill today. #LoveIsLove 👏🌈 pic.twitter.com/bPoKW6c4ye
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) December 7, 2017
GAY MARRIAGE IS OFFICIALLY LEGAL IN AUSTRALIA IM SO HAPPY MY HEART IS SO FULL I CANT STOP CRYING #marriageequalitypic.twitter.com/mOQ9dHE0CI
— tess ♡'s tao (@babytaos) December 7, 2017
Finally! We have #MarriageEquality
— Kon Karapanagiotidis (@Kon__K) December 7, 2017
All credit goes to the brave, resilient and fearless #LGBTIQ community who fought for decades for today.
Ashamed about what you were put through but so bloody happy right now. LOVE to you all 🌈❤❤❤❤
As of today, gay marriage is legal in Australia!!!!! ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜
— Don't Bore Us 🎄 (@DontBoreUs) December 7, 2017
Love is love.
Love is not a choice. pic.twitter.com/izHWK1Le87
AUSTRALIA HAS PASSED #MarriageEquality 🙏🏻
— Matthew Wade (@MatthewRWade) December 7, 2017
Many in our community have waited decades to say that. We've faced unforgivable abuse + marginalisation throughout the marriage campaign but make no mistake - today, love won. I've never felt more proud to be gay.
We see you Australia. 🎉🎉 #marriageequality#LoveWinspic.twitter.com/BIV9uaY5rz
— The Sims (@TheSims) December 7, 2017
Today is a momentous day. #MarriageEquality has passed through Parliament, ensuring marriage equality for all.
— City of Melbourne (@cityofmelbourne) December 7, 2017
We believe we can’t be a city for all people unless all people are treated equally. We’re glad everyone in our community is now free to marry the person they love. pic.twitter.com/WHlNYBVuBf
To those who didn’t live to see this day. To the amazing lesbian women who nurtured me as I came out and whose beloved partners died before their marriages could be legal. To those we lost too young to suicide. You are held in my heart. In all our hearts. #MarriageEquality
— Avril (@DocAvvers) December 7, 2017
Great to see same-sex marriage passed in Australia today. On a personal note: I have four sisters, and two are gay, so they will be able to marry their partners now. 🎉🌈
— Kate Kendall (@KateKendall) December 7, 2017
I’m reposting this image because I believe it is everything Australia right now. #marriageequalitypic.twitter.com/6j7g1HeCAE
— Van Badham ✊🏻🌈 (@vanbadham) December 7, 2017
2001: 🇳🇱
— Raymond Braun 🏳️🌈 (@raymondbraun) December 7, 2017
2003; 🇧🇪
2005: 🇪🇸, 🇨🇦
2006: 🇿🇦
2009: 🇳🇴, 🇸🇪
2010: 🇵🇹, 🇮🇸, 🇦🇷
2012: 🇩🇰
2013: 🇬🇧, 🇧🇷, 🇫🇷, 🇺🇾, 🇳🇿
2015: 🇺🇸, 🇮🇪, 🇱🇺
2016: 🇨🇴
Earlier this year: 🇩🇪, 🇫🇮, 🇲🇹, 🇦🇹
Today: 🇦🇺
Congratulations, Australia!#marriageequality
Australia’s estimated 46,800 same-sex couples will have to wait until the new year to wed, on account of a 28-day notice period for all marriages, according to the Guardian.
Lauding the accomplishment, Tiernan Brady, leader of the Marriage Equality campaign, also spoke of the global challenges ahead.
“Australia and New Zealand are the only two nations east of Jerusalem that have marriage equality,” he said. “That means there are around 4 billion people without these rights that Australians will now enjoy, so there’s a lot more work to do.”
Global Citizen campaigns on the Global Goals for Sustainable Development, including goal number 10, reduced inequalities, which calls for the “social, economic and political inclusion of all.” You can join us and take action here.