With what appears a landslide win amid a high turnout, all indications are Ireland has voted "yes" to marriage equality in a referendum on legalising same-sex marriages. This is the first time marriage equality has been put to a popular vote anywhere in the world, and makes Ireland the 21st nation to legalise same-sex marriages.
Samesame.com.au said: "Following a higher than expended turnout to the non-compulsory vote, the amendment to extend the right to marry to all couples regardless of gender will be passed with a decisive 2-to-1 majority across the republic."
Ireland only legalised homosexuality in 1993. Australia, governed by the hard-line social reactionary Prime Minister Tony Abbott, now looks even more backwards and ridiculous -- but the take home message is, if even Ireland, where the Catholic Church has imposed socially reactionary policies for years, can decisively stand up for equality, so can Australia.
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