Yes vote to same-sex marriage shows Australians didn’t buy No campaign lies, scare tactics

AUSTRALIANS didn’t believe voting Yes would brainwash kids into being gay. Or change the school curriculum and force boys to wear dresses. In a win for common sense, they didn’t buy into the lies and scare tactics.

NO vote campaigners should be ashamed right now.

People didn’t buy their lies and scare tactics.

People didn’t believe a yes vote to same sex marriage would change the school curriculum

or force boys to wear dresses.

NEWS REPORT: Australia votes Yes to same-sex marriage

ANDREW BOLT: Yes vote proves Australia isn’t a nation of bigots

People didn’t believe it would brainwash kids into being gay.

Instead we had a win for love.

A win for families.

And a win for common sense.

More than 60 per cent of those who voted - an astonishing 12 million people – stood up for the rights of same sex couples and their kids.

It showed that people don’t believe gay couples are any different to anyone else.

It shows we believe their children matter, and deserve to have the same stable family units as everyone else.

The Yes result sparks wild celebrations at the State Library in Melbourne. Picture: Getty

Hugs outside the State Library, Melbourne. Picture: Jason Edwards

This is a vindication for all gay men and women in stable relationships who want the same legal status and protection as everyone else.

Being married still means something in our society – it’s a public statement like no other. Who doesn’t love a wedding?

Now thousands of Australian couples can get on with doing what the rest of us take for granted: get married.

The next challenge is to ensure the overwhelming yes mandate is not diluted through discriminatory clauses allowing businesses to bar gay couples.

It’s not legal to discriminate against one gay person, so why should it be legal to discriminate against two?

The suggestion that bakers or celebrants should be able to turn away customers just because they’re gay is highly offensive and must remain illegal.

It’s not only morally wrong, but ethically repugnant.

A cake is not an ideological statement – it’s just a cake – nothing more, nothing less.

Now it’s up to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to follow through and legislate to make same sex marriage a reality by the end of the year.

We must hold him to account and make sure he doesn’t let this momentous piece of social reform become watered down by his petulant backbenchers.

Now I hope all of the gay people in committed, long-term relationships who want to get married start planning their weddings.

I can’t wait to see all the rainbow brides and grooms step up and take their place as equals in Australian society.

NEWS REPORT: Australia votes Yes to same-sex marriage

ANDREW BOLT: Yes vote proves Australia isn’t a nation of bigots