Older people support same-sex marriage
A new poll shows two-thirds of Australians support same-sex marriage – with older voters appearing ‘split’ in their decision. Only a slight majority of older voters support legal reform, with 51% of respondents aged 50 to 64 years supporting a change to allow gay couples to marry.
A new poll shows two-thirds of Australians support same-sex marriage – with older voters appearing ‘split’ in their decision.
Only a slight majority of older voters support legal reform, with 51% of respondents aged 50 to 64 years supporting a change to allow gay couples to marry.
The poll comes as two private members bills were introduced to federal parliament recently calling for a change to the Marriage Act.
The poll surveyed 786 people over the weekend, and overall showed 62% support same-sex marriage.
Support was strongest amongst young voters, with 81% of respondents aged 18 to 24 supporting same-sex marriage.
Respondents were also surveyed on whether an exemption for churches from having to marry same-sex couples would affect their feelings on the issue.
Nearly 30% of people said they were ‘more willing’ to agree to support same-sex couples being allowed to marry if churches could refuse to do so, while 17% of older respondents said they were less willing to agree.
One of the private member bills was co-sponsored by Greens MP Adam Bandt, who told parliament, the “power of love would eventually conquer all” and predicted same-sex marriage would be legalised in Australia before the end of the year.
“I believe it is love that has brought us to this place in this debate and it is love that will carry us over the threshold of discrimination to full marriage equality,” he said.
