There’s Only One Response To The Postal Survey: Let’s Get This Done
It's time to call your relatives and win this thing.
If you haven’t heard yet, it’s official — the High Court ruled this arvo that it’s a-ok for the postal survey on marriage equality to go ahead.
It’s not what the Yes campaign hoped for — those behind the two separate legal challenges that were struck down today expressed their disappointment at a rainy press conference after the verdict was announced, especially about the fact that LGBTIQ+ Australians will be subjected to even more “respectful debate” in coming weeks.
Alex: at least now we have certainty. Now we go out there and vote yes for our friends, our colleagues and our neighbours. pic.twitter.com/cQqr36Bw3e
— Calla Wahlquist (@callapilla) September 7, 2017
But more than anything, news that the survey will go ahead has galvanised supporters of marriage equality to get out there and win this thing once and for all. In the wake of the decision, Twitter has been flooded with messages of determination and support from a community ready to put this debate behind it.
It’s going to be a rough few weeks for LGBTQI+ Aussies, but take comfort from some of these responses.
Here Are Some Of The People Who’ve Got Your Back:
Ok friends. Campaign, get out the vote. Let's get this done. #MarriageEquality ?
— Senator Penny Wong (@SenatorWong) September 7, 2017
Call your relatives. Let's do this, 'Straya. ? pic.twitter.com/xonr3qdUfS
— Benjamin Law (@mrbenjaminlaw) September 7, 2017
I'm sorry LGBTI Australians, their families + friends have to go through this. But we're with you. Together we'll keep fighting for equality
— Tanya Plibersek (@tanya_plibersek) September 7, 2017
I welcome High Court decision & will #voteYes to support individual rights & freedoms as well as equality of loving & stable relationships.
— Simon Birmingham (@Birmo) September 7, 2017
Look, the shitiness of the campaign was already here and it wasn't going away. Let's win, win fast and win well.
— Rob Stott (@Rob_Stott) September 7, 2017
It's ON! Vote YES. Join the campaign and let's win this thing! ❤️????
— Sarah Hanson-Young? (@sarahinthesen8) September 7, 2017
Sad and angry but also loved-up, happy and ready to vote YES pic.twitter.com/cAi95ff0OG
— Samuel Leighton-Dore (@SamLeightonDore) September 7, 2017
Pug is thoroughly unimpressed by this decision #SSM https://t.co/2tVhuwnP1X pic.twitter.com/ln3o1i8FJp
— Liv Ronan ?️? (@livronan) September 7, 2017
There are, of course, also some meathead reactions. Like the Australian Christian Lobby’s Lyle Shelton, who still has not received the memo that this is not a referendum, or even a plebiscite, and it’s definitely not a referendum on education.
It’s still on. A referendum on freedoms & radical LGBTIQ sex education in schools.
— Lyle Shelton (@LyleShelton) September 7, 2017
And then there’s the Libs who proposed this expensive, non-binding mess expressing pleasure that it’s going forward, along with grandiose statements like “democracy is an infinite good”. There also seems to be a trend emerging, where the people most in favour of the postal survey are also the ones least likely to know it’s not a plebiscite.
Eriz Abetz warmly welcomes a national survey he has said he'll ignore the results of #auspol pic.twitter.com/UYC1R5CO7T
— Bevan Shields (@BevanShields) September 7, 2017
Jacqui Lambie, meanwhile, is surprisingly across the matter — check out this press release where she correctly identifies it as both a “postal survey” and “dumb”.
The High Court has ruled the postal survey will go ahead, so let's make the most of it. Ensure your voice is heard #auspol #politas pic.twitter.com/PNDP3EsNIR
— Jacqui Lambie (@JacquiLambie) September 7, 2017
And of course, there are those who are just taking the opportunity to crack great jokes:
Worst Court since Margaret.
— Paul Mackay (@plmcky) September 7, 2017