Where to celebrate the same sex marriage yes vote around the city
THE results of the same-sex marriage survey are in and supporters of marriage equality are out in force to celebrate the historic vote. Here’s our listing of where to go.
Central Sydney
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IT has been a long two months for many Australians but today the results of the same-sex marriage survey are in and the country has voted an overwhelming YES to marriage equality.
Gay couples in love will be able to legally wed for the first time in Australian history, as a result of today’s vote, achieving equal rights with their straight counterparts.
#BREAKING: the yes vote for the same-sex marriage survey has won with more than 60 per cent of the vote. Crowds in Prince Alfred Park have begun celebrating pic.twitter.com/SYBn2FpIYY
— Central Sydney (@SydneyCentral) November 14, 2017
The Australian Bureau of Statistics have confirmed, in an announcement that gripped the nation, that the majority of Australians support changes to the Marriage Act under the Constitution to allow for same-sex couples to wed.
After today’s vote, gay marriage is set to be legislated by the end of this year.
Supporters of marriage equality are out in force across the city to celebrate the historic vote.
PRINCE ALFRED PARK
MORE than 1500 Sydneysiders flocked to Prince Alfred Park for the announcement of the results at 10am and the crowd erupted in cheers and cries when the 61.6 per cent win was revealed.
City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore, councillors Christine Forster and Kerryn Phelps and Sydney MP Alex Greenwich and other high-profile marriage equality supporters including Magda Szubanski, Ian Thorpe, John Paul Young and Alfie Arcuri at the event.
Cr Forster — gay sister of former PM and member for Warringah Tony Abbott — took to the stage shortly after the result was announced to say: “There was a 75 per cent yes vote in the Warringah electorate.”
Former champion swimmer Thorpe — who came out as gay three years ago also spoke saying: “Now Australia is for you and me.”
Newtown State Greens MP Jenny Leong said: “The yes vote has won in every State and Territory, now there’s only one thing left to do and that is to make sure that by the end of the year, we see our federal parliament pass the Marriage reforms that we need to see and we see beautiful people around this country able to celebrate their love.”
Prof Phelps said she would be at the event with her wife Jackie Stricker-Phelps and their daughter Gabrielle.
“We’ve been pacing ourselves emotionally for a very long time,” Prof Phelps said.
“It’s important that we hope for a yes but be prepared for a no, then we have to see what sort of Australia we will be,” she said.
Either way, it will be a “defining moment” for the country, she said.
HOW WE VOTED
Top 10 electorates voting YES (%)
Sydney 83.7
Wentworth 80.8
Grayndler 79.9
Warringah 75
Newcastle 74.8
N Sydney 71.8
Mackellar 68
Richmond 67.9
Shortland 67.7
Cunningham 65.7
Top 10 electorates voting NO (%)
Blaxland 73.9
Watson 69.6
McMahon 64.9
Fowler 63.7
Werriwa 63.7
Parramatta 61.6
Chifley 58.7
Barton 56.4
Banks 55.1
Greenway 53.6
THE BEARDED TIT
FAMILIES, friends and supporters of the marriage equality movement will be coming together in their homes and pubs into the evening.
LGBTI-friendly venues including Redfern’s The Bearded Tit will be hosting celebratory nights.
TAYLOR SQUARE
Reclaim the Streets will also throw a free multistage festival from 6pm in Taylor Square. Spokesman James Lock said it would be an affirmation of the community’s “commitment to each other and determination to end inequality”.
FREE ICE CREAM
SYDNEY non-dairy ice cream business Over The Moo reports it will be serving up free ice cream to celebrate the same sex marriage plebiscite result today from midday to 6pm, or until it runs out under the Martin Luther King “I Have A Dream” mural on King St, Newtown.
NEWTOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE
THE Inner West Council is holding a Civic reception at the Newtown Neighbourhood Centre at 7pm.
The Council and members of local LGBTIQ organisations will mark the event with a glass of sparkling and a spirit of solidarity with friends and neighbours, said Inner West Council Mayor Darcy Byrne.
“I am inviting representatives from LGBTIQ organisations and the inner west community to what will hopefully be a joyous celebration of a historic victory in the struggle for civil rights,” he said.
THE LANDSDOWNE YASS PARTY!
COME down to the Landsdowne, 2 City Rd, Sydney.
There are DJ’s from 2pm until late and shows by Australia’s premier original tribute lip syncing parody drag band, The Magda Szubanskis.
GOING POSTAL PARTY AT THE ROSE OF AUSTRALIA
THE Rose Hotel of Australia in Erskineville is offering $50 bottles of Piper Heidsieck and $25 bottles of Fleur de Lys all day long.
CELEBRATION OF LOVE PARTY SYDNEY
THE event will be held at the Lord Roberts Hotel, 64 Stanley St, Darlinghurst from 11am until 10pm.
DJs Kate Monroe, Amanda Louise and Colin Gaff, will perform and there will be 2 for $20 cocktail specials from 11am until 3pm.
ARQ NIGHTCLUB, TAYLOR SQUARE
ARQ Sydney will open its doors and plans to throw a massive mid week party. Regardless of the result, it invites the LGBTIQ community and friends to get together and celebrate.
