Overview
It's been a long time coming and a pretty rough road, but we finally have an answer to the Australian marriage law postal survey. And that answer is a big fat yes, pushing the nation, at long last, closer than it's ever been to marriage equality.
As announced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics in Canberra at 10am today, 61.6 percent percent of Aussie voters are on board with same-sex marriage being legalised — that's a tidy 7,817,247 people.
A break-down of the votes for various electorates and the participation rates for different age groups has also been nutted out, and is live now, over at the ABS' survey results website.
Of course, this 'yes' doesn't automatically ensure a smooth ride to marriage law reform. The issue will now be handed over to parliament, and while Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull promised he'd "facilitate a private member's bill to legalise same-sex marriage", if that's how the public voted, the bill still has to be passed.
That said, if you were one of the majority hanging for a 'yes' result, it's time to cue the celebrations, and get along to one of the many post-results gatherings and parties happening across the country.
In Melbourne, they're closing off part of Lygon Street in front of Trades Hall for a massive street party from 5.30pm, complete with food, booze and performances by the likes of Habits, Tanzer, MinnieTaur and The Ballarat Orchestra + LGBTIQ Choir.
Sydney pub The Lansdowne will be letting its hair down with some loved-up celebrations featuring DJs from 2pm until late, plus shows by legendary tribute lip-syncing parody drag band The Magda Szubanskis.
And in Brisbane, West End's Rumpus Room is teaming up with GetUp! and Equal Love for an evening of drinking, dancing and celebrating, from 6pm tonight.
Image: Leticia Almeida.