
Celebrities Flood Social Media With Rainbows and Heart Emojis Following Australia’s ‘Yes’ Vote
We’re still reeling that Australian citizens voted 61.6% for nationwide marriage equality in a non-binding postal plebiscite.
David W. Kalisch, head of the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) announced the results of the $122 million plebiscite yesterday. The results were 61.6% for to 38.4% against. An estimated 12.6 million of Australia’s 16 million eligible voters (or roughly 78.5%) mailed in their ballots.
However, the results merely return the matter to Australia’s parliament where legislators will now fight over what rights to grant and deny to same-sex couples.
That didn’t stop celebrities from taking to social media to express their joy that the country voted “yes” for marriage equality. Many tweeted out photos of rainbow-filled maps of Australia with lots of celebratory heart emojis.
From Kylie Minogue to Sam Smith, here’s how these celebrities celebrated the “Yes” vote in Australia.
Ellen DeGeneres
It’s a g’day. Way to go Australia. #MarriageEquality pic.twitter.com/0tdnBHPAW1
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) November 14, 2017
Sia
the Australian people have spoken loud and clear. #LoveIsLove ?️??️??️? pic.twitter.com/FMQ1tDc9yY
— sia (@Sia) November 14, 2017
Courtney Act
CONGRATULATIONS AUSTRALIA!!! 61% of people who voted, voted YES FOR #marriageequaility
— Courtney Act (@courtneyact) November 14, 2017
Miley Cyrus
Yes!!!!! Congrats Australia! Every step taken is one closer to World Peace! Love love love you! Proud to be Australian by association lol ❤️❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/1zO5kSjMS7
— Miley Ray Cyrus (@MileyCyrus) November 14, 2017
Troye Sivan
?️??️??️??️? LOVE JUST WON IN AUSTRALIA AND I’M SO PROUD AND EMOTIONAL AND WISH I WAS HOME ?️??️??️??️?
— troye sivan (@troyesivan) November 15, 2017
Ian Thorpe
Thank you, Australia #yes
— Ian Thorpe (@IanThorpe) November 14, 2017
Billy Eichner
Welp, guess I'll move to Australia now and try to get Nicole Kidman to marry Cate Blanchett.
— billy eichner (@billyeichner) November 15, 2017
Dua Lipa
AUSTRALIA ?? VOTED ❤️ YES ?️? LOVE ? WINS ✨
— DUA LIPA (@DUALIPA) November 14, 2017
Sam Smith
Seeing my feed full of rainbows leaves me breathless. So happy. Everyone tweet rainbows until your thumbs hurt!!!!!!! ?️???️???️? pic.twitter.com/WQohc0sqXL
— Sam Smith (@samsmithworld) November 15, 2017
Kylie Minogue
#Australia … ?? #MarriageEquality ? Love is love, always was love, always will be love.
— kylie minogue (@kylieminogue) November 14, 2017
Justin Trudeau
Love wins in Australia! Thrilled to hear Australians have voted in favour of legalizing same-sex marriage. #MarriageEquality
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) November 15, 2017
Boy George
YES AUSTRALIA! WELL DONE #SSM!
— Boy George (@BoyGeorge) November 14, 2017
Adam Lambert
Wooohoooo marriage equality in Australia ! ? pic.twitter.com/JRTt9qFpvE
— ADAM LAMBERT (@adamlambert) November 15, 2017
Ricky Martin
Today is a great day for human rights. #Australia says YES to marriage equality. BRAVO! This makes me so happy. pic.twitter.com/pCLUOhvD06
— Ricky Martin (@ricky_martin) November 15, 2017
Nick Jonas
Yes Australia! ?️?
— Nick Jonas (@nickjonas) November 14, 2017
Jonathan Bennett
Congratulations to the land down under!!!! #LoveWins https://t.co/y6Kgc2HeNR
— Jonathan Bennett (@JonathanBennett) November 15, 2017
What’s next after the yes vote?
The results of the Australia marriage vote lays the groundwork for a legislative battle in Australia’s parliament as same-sex marriage advocates push for a nationwide bill legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide and conservatives seek amendments that would allow discrimination against same-sex couples.
The Liberal Party has already drawn up a marriage bill in case of a “yes” vote. The draft bill was written by Senator Dean Smith and contains some exemptions: It allows ministers to refuse to officiate same-sex marriages. Likewise, organizations with a clear religious purpose can also opt out. The bill, as it stands now, is popular with the “Yes” campaign. The Labor Party has also backed it.
Now that the vote is over, the “Yes” side has planned celebratory parties in most major cities, while the other side focuses on the possible legislative gains that can still be won in Parliament.