Australia Votes For Same-Sex Marriage In Historic Poll, Celebrities React With Delight

Australia has decisively voted in favor of same-sex marriage in a historic poll. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 61.6 percent Australians overwhelmingly voted for legalizing same-sex marriage in a non-binding postal vote, BBC News reported.

The result was announced at a press conference in Canberra by Australia’s chief statistician, David Kalisch on Wednesday. He revealed 7,817,247 people voted in favor and 4,873,987 voted against same-sex marriage.

"This is outstanding for a voluntary survey and well above other voluntary surveys conducted around the world. It shows how important this issue is to many Australians," he said.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull also promised marriage equality should be law by Christmas, the Guardian reported.

At a press conference in Canberra, Turnbull said, "[Australians] have spoken in their millions and they have voted overwhelmingly yes for marriage equality”. Stressing the law should change before Christmas, he added, “They voted yes for fairness, yes for commitment, yes for love. And now it is up to us here in the parliament of Australia to get on with it, to get on with the job the Australian people asked us to do and get this done”.

The positive results crossed borders and several Hollywood celebrities and LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, queer) advocates took to their respective social media accounts to celebrate the outcome.

Talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres, who has been married to Aussie Portia de Rossi for nine years, tweeted her reaction to the news shortly after it was announced.

Here are a few more celebrity reactions.

Celebrity chef Kylie Kwong posted a photo on Instagram with her partner Nell. The couple, who has been together for nearly 12 years, was delighted with the positive result.

Kwong wrote, “Today we are one step closer to marriage equality in this country after Australia voted yes in support of same-sex marriage. Thank you, Australia, to everyone who made this happen.”

The total turnout for the survey was 79.5 percent, which is considered a highly credible reflection of Australian opinion, the Guardian reported. The turnout also gives supporters enough drive to achieve the historical social reform.

Labor leader Bill Shorten also hailed the decision at a rally in Melbourne.

He said, “What a fabulous day to be an Australian – because in this survey the Australian people have declared overwhelmingly Australia is ready for marriage equality. And I just want to make one promise: today we celebrate, tomorrow we legislate”.

Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott, a same-sex marriage opponent, wrote in a Facebook post the parliament should "respect the result".

"I always said this was an issue where the Australian people wanted their say and today's result demonstrates that seeking their views was the right thing to do," he wrote. He added he supported a bill that provided "freedom of conscience for all, not just the churches.