Successful US marriage equality state ballots show reform is an election winner / US election a victory for marriage equality as well as Obama
Marriage equality advocates say four U.S. state referendum victories for marriage equality send a message to Australian politicians that supporting marriage equality is now an election winner.
Australian Marriage Equality national convener, Rodney Croome, said,
“America is a more evangelical country than Australia, with a more powerful religious right and lower levels of support for marriage equality, yet the people of four states have voted in favour of this reform and the country as a whole has returned a pro-marriage equality president.”
“This shows Australian politicians that when it comes to the ballot box they have nothing to fear and everything to gain from voting for marriage equality.”
In a U.S. first, marriage equality referenda have been successful in Maine, Maryland and Washington, with a referendum against marriage equality defeated in Minnesota.
Earlier this year President Barack Obama came out in support of marriage equality, raising concerns about the electoral cost of such a move, which have been silenced by his victory in Tuesday’s election.
Mr Croome also welcomed the French Government’s approval of draft marriage equality legislation despite a backlash from the Catholic Church and the failure of a constitutional court challenge to Spain’s equal marriage laws.
“If this week’s events show anything it is that history is on the side of marriage equality and those politicians who support it.”
For more information contact Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668.