It's a Who, not a What: Marriage Equality Campaigner Visits Newcastle

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The Bureau of Statistics has revealed the response to the same sex marriage survey has been huge, particularly here in Newcastle.

The man leading the Yes Campaign believes almost 60 per of voters have returned their survey form so far.

Meeting today outside an Islington home proudly boasting a rainbow fence, Australians For Equality Executive Director, Tiernan Brady met with Novocastrian Yes campaigners. He says from door knocking and phone calls alone, there's been a resounding majority of people saying they have voted, and they've voted yes.

Yes campaigners gathering in Islington today. 

"This is not a normal political campaign. It's not about taxes or defence policy or schools, it's about real people's lives and their dignity and people who live in Newcastle who love their community every little bit as everybody else in Newcastle and they just want to be treated the same," said Tiernan.

One of those real people was John, one of the Yes campaigners who lost his partner to pancreatic cancer. On his death certificate, John is identified as an "informant of death" which he says would be a different situation if his marriage was to be legalised.

"Marriage equality isn't some strange 'what', it's a 'who', it's somebody who lives on the same street as us. I think when people understand that they understand that marriage equality doesn't take anything from anybody."

Tiernan is blown away by the support Newcastle City Council has thrown behind the campaign and can see residents who identify as gay or lesbian are taking great strength from the support.

"I think the support of the council has been incredible in Newcastle. Most especially for the people of Newcastle because it sends such a powerful message to everybody in the community that the council that represents that community thinks everybody should be equal."

Tiernan played a key role in the successful campaign for same sex marriage in Ireland in 2015 and says compared to Ireland, Newcastle's reaction to the campaign and the polling numbers are quite similar. He's hopeful that similarity will lead to success in Australia for marriage equality.

"The wonderful thing to know from the Irish experience that the day after marriage equality happens, all that happens is a few more people get married and people get on with their lives. No one becomes less married and no one becomes more gay," said Tiernan.

The rainbow fence in Islington.

According to polling data released this week, one in five Australians aged between 18 and 24 had filled in the form but were yet to post it.

Particularly in Newcastle, there's a lot of students living away from home to attend university who may not have even gotten hold of their survey. With just over four weeks left to cast your vote, the campaign is reminding everyone to visit the post box.

"We all know that whatever happens with this vote we all have to wake up in Australia the next day, we all have to share the same country. So winning for us isn't about beating anybody. Winning for us is about persuading people. We understand that even though the majority of Australians are for us, there are some we are yet to persuade."