Equality won.

Love is love. Today, along with the majority of Australians, IWDA celebrates this historic moment in the global movement for equality.

We’re in awe of the resilience, persistence, strategy, solidarity and compassion of every single person  affected by this survey.  In awe of every difficult phone call, conversation, and affirmation of self that has been required every day over the past few months.

We look forward to the Australian Parliament taking immediate steps to ensure that the Australian community’s call for marriage equality is legalised. This vote has been about equality for our family, friends, work colleagues and community, we have been proud to stand up with you on this symbolic issue and will continue to work until all Australians are equal in law and practice.

IWDA acknowledges that this is not the beginning, or the end for our friends and family in the LGBTQIA community, and we will continue our support for diversity and true inclusion.

But for today, let’s celebrate that this was the right thing to do, and we did it.

*You can call Lifeline on 13 11 14 at any time, day or night, or chat with them online at www.lifeline.org.au . You can also call Beyondblue on 1300 22 4636, or chat online at www.beyondblue.org.au.  Q-Life, a national telephone and web counselling service for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) people, families and friends provides both telephone and online counselling. Their website is qlife.org.au and you can call them on 1800 184 527 between 3pm and midnight, wherever you are in Aus.