Following a contentious few months, in which Aussies were asked to submit their vote through a non-binding postal survey, the results were finally released yesterday; 61.6% voted in favor of changing the law to allow same-sex couples to marry, while only 38.4% voted against. Almost 12.6 million people -- 80% of the population -- took part in the survey.

 

The country's politicians have been debating the issue of same-sex marriage since 2004, when then Prime Minister John Howard wanted to explicitly deny gay couples the right to wed by stating in the Marriage Act that "marriage was between a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others."

 

Successive leaders have been equally reluctant to extend marriage rights to gay couples.

 

However, the current Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, has promised that his government will now pass same-sex marriage legislation by Christmas.

 

Conservative politicians, refusing to give up the fight, are hoping any new marriage law will allow people of faith to refuse to work with same-sex couples.

 

 

And though the wounds may take some time to heal, there is some comfort to be found in knowing that the majority of Aussies, in every territory, said yes to equality.

 

Good on ya, Australia!