Public opinion of same-sex marriage in Australia has shifted from 38% support in 2004 to majority support of 75% in 2023. [1]
A June 2004 poll conducted by Newspoll showed that 38% of respondents supported same-sex marriage in Australia, with 44% opposed and 18% undecided. [2] [3]
In June 2007, a Galaxy Research poll conducted for advocacy group GetUp! measured the opinions of 1,100 Australians aged 16 and over [4] and found that 57% of respondents supported same-sex marriage, 37% were opposed and 6% were unsure. The poll also found that 71% of respondents supported same-sex couples having the same legal entitlements as opposite-sex de facto couples. [5]
A June 2009 poll conducted by Galaxy Research and commissioned by the Australian Marriage Equality group measured the opinions of 1,100 Australians aged 16 and over and found that 60% of respondents supported the recognition of same-sex marriage, with 36% opposed and 4% undecided. [6] Among Greens voters 82% supported same-sex marriage, whilst 74% of those aged 16–24 supported same-sex marriage. Those aged 50 or above were the only age bracket to oppose same-sex marriage recognition, at a 55% disapproval rate. [6]
An October 2010 poll conducted by Galaxy Research and commissioned by Australian Marriage Equality measured the opinions of 1,050 Australians aged 18 and over and found that 62% of respondents supported the recognition of same-sex marriage, with 33% opposed and 5% undecided. [7] The poll found 78% of respondents supported a conscience vote on the recognition of same-sex marriage, with 16% opposed and 6% undecided. Support was highest amongst those respondents aged 18–24 (84%), and who lived in South Australia (83%). The majority of respondents from each state and each age bracket were in support.
A March 2011 poll conducted by Essential Media found that support for same-sex marriage had fallen below 50% and opposition was up by 4%. [8]
A July 2011 poll of 543 people conducted by Roy Morgan Research measured the support for a number of positions on marriage and found that 68% of Australians support same-sex marriage and 78% classified marriage as a "necessary" institution, with only 22% stating it was an "unnecessary" institution. [9]
A November 2011 Galaxy Research poll, commissioned by the Australian Marriage Equality group, of over 1,000 voters found that 80% agreed that Tony Abbott should allow the Liberal/National Coalition a conscience vote on same-same marriage legislation as the Australian Labor Party do. Support for a conscience vote among Coalition supporters reached an all-time high of 76%. [10]
A February 2012 online poll of 1,506 Australian adult members on the Nine Rewards website by Angus Reid Public Opinion found that 49% of respondents said same-sex couples should be allowed to legally marry, 31% said they should be allowed to enter into civil unions but not marry and 14% opposed any legal recognition. [11] No attempt was made to make the survey representative of the entire population, and the Nine Rewards website is associated with the Nine Network, an Australian television channel popular with older and more conservative viewers.
From February to April 2012, the House of Representatives conducted an online survey to provide a simple means for the public to voice their views on same-sex marriage and the two bills in the Parliament which sought to legalise it, the Marriage Equality Amendment Bill 2012 and the Marriage Amendment Bill 2012. [12] The survey closed on 20 April, having received approximately 276,000 responses, including about 213,500 comments. [13] Of these responses, 64.3% supported same-sex marriage, or approximately 177,600 of the respondents. The report acknowledged that "The online survey was not a statistically valid, random poll. Respondents were self-selected, in that they chose to participate if they wished." [14]
A May 2013 Ipsos poll found that 54% of respondents were in favour of same-sex marriage and another 20% supported another form of recognition for same-sex couples. [15] Results from the August 2013 Vote Compass survey of Australian voters found that 52% of respondents supported same-sex marriage, 12% were neutral, and 36% believed that marriage "should only be between a man and a woman". [16] A 2015 Vote Compass survey with 20,000 respondents found 53% supported same-sex marriage, 10% neutral and 36% opposed. Support for same-sex marriage was higher among women, people with university degrees and higher incomes, and people under 34. [17]
An August 2013 poll conducted by Fairfax Media and Nielson Polling found that 65% of respondents supported legalising marriage between same-sex couples, up 8 points since December 2011, while only 28% were opposed (down 7 points). Support was greater among women (75%) than men (55%) and greater among younger voters than older voters. [18] 57% of respondents said that same-sex marriage was "not important at all" in deciding how they would vote in the coming election. [19] Even for those supporting same-sex marriage 49% said that the issue was "not important at all" in deciding their vote. [18]
In June 2014, Crosby Textor Group [20] was commissioned by Australian Marriage Equality to poll the public on same-sex marriage. Their survey included the following questions on the common reasons for opposition: [21]
| Reason | Agree (%) | Disagree (%) |
|---|---|---|
| People who choose to be gay know that their choice means they cannot get married | 30% | 58% |
| It is fine for same-sex couples to have a ceremony, but it should not be called "marriage" | 30% | 63% |
| The recognition of de facto relationships and civil unions is enough; we don't need same-sex marriage too | 29% | 63% |
| Children need both a mother and a father, and legalising same-sex marriage could break that down | 29% | 65% |
| The institution is already under threat and should not be further undermined by this | 24% | 67% |
| Marriage is only meant to be between a man and a woman, so this is wrong and should not be encouraged | 24% | 69% |
| Marriage is a religious institution and no changes should be made to it against the wishes of religious groups | 23% | 70% |
| Same-sex marriages could devalue traditional marriages | 22% | 73% |
| Allowing same-sex marriage will lead to some people losing their religious freedoms | 16% | 72% |
| Allowing same-sex marriage is a slippery slope and could lead to issues like polygamy | 17% | 74% |
A July 2014 poll, commissioned by Australian Marriage Equality and conducted by the Crosby Textor Group found that 72% of Australians supported legalising same-sex marriage, while only 21% were opposed. A majority of those identifying with major religions supported same-sex marriage, including Catholics, Anglicans and non-Christian religions as did a majority of older Australians aged over 55. Mark Textor stated "This poll definitively puts pay to some of the myths that married couples or those with religious beliefs are against same-sex marriage. It doesn't devalue their marriages or faith, and instead gives everyone equal access to the rights they are accorded". Further, 77% of respondents agreed that Coalition MPs and Senators should be granted a conscience vote on the issue. [22] [23] Jim Reed, director of Research and Strategy at the Crosby Textor Group argued in an opinion piece that the poll represented a "seismic shift in public attitudes towards marriage equality." [24]
Also in July 2014 Newscorp's Newspoll recorded a high vote in favour of same-sex marriage, with two-thirds of respondents supporting marriage between same-sex couples. [25]
A June 2015 Fairfax/Ipsos poll found 68% of respondents expressed support to the question Do you support or oppose legalising marriage between same-sex couples? 25% answered that they were opposed and 7% answered 'Don't Know'. [26]
In July 2015, a Sexton research poll was undertaken to determine the most important issues the federal government should focus on. Survey respondents rated same-sex marriage as equal 13th as their prioritisation. [27] The Australian activist group GetUp! polls the views of its members (termed Vision Surveys) to provide guidance for its "top campaign issues". GetUp! members ranked 'Marriage Equality' as campaign issue No. 16, scoring 2.1% of the votes. [28] The Australian reports that recent research has placed doubts on the accuracy of earlier poll claims. The Australian also says there have been 5 Australian polls taken since May 2015 on 'support for same-sex marriage' with the respective results being 68%, 58%, 59%, 59% and 54%. [27]
A Sexton Research survey, commissioned by Marriage Alliance (a group which does not support same-sex marriage) was undertaken in July 2015. The Sexton research has queried the findings of the above June 2014, Crosby Textor Group poll. [27] It was also reported that same-sex marriage was ranked in national importance, by participants, in the Crosby Textor study as 13th priority. [27] Same-sex marriage was rated as 16th in a GetUp! members survey. [28]
In August 2015, Fairfax/Ipsos found SSM support constant at 69% with 25% opposed, although support was much higher among under-25s (88%) than over-55s (55%). [29]
A community survey by Essential Media Communications in August 2015 [30] showed support for same-sex marriage at 60% and support for a parliamentary vote at 22%, with support for a people's vote at 66% [31] and in a Sexton survey of 1,200 people, support for a people's vote was 76%. [32]
In September 2015, an Essential Media Communications poll found 67% of Australians wanted a peoples’ vote (i.e., referendum or plebiscite) to resolve the definition of marriage, with "little change since this question was asked in August". [33] However, in October 2015, another Essential poll found that support for a people's vote on the issue fell to 43% when informed that "a national vote on same-sex marriage would cost around $150 million". 41% favoured a parliamentary vote. [34] The same poll also found that 59% of respondents thought that "same-sex couples should be allowed to marry", 30% of respondents thought that "same-sex couples should not be allowed to marry", whilst 11% answered "do not know". [34]
The ABC had a question in their pre-election VoteCompass from 2016 about support of same-sex marriage, drawing a response from 1.2 million people. They were able to break down the findings into electorate-level results, finding that most seats supported same-sex marriage, with support increasing around the major city centres, regardless of what party traditionally holds these seats. According to this data, Queensland has the least support for same-sex marriage. [35]
A March 2016 Essential Media poll found that 64% of respondents agreed that same-sex couples should be allowed to marry, 26% stated they should not be allowed to marry and 11% answered "don't know". [36]
A July 2016 Galaxy Research poll, commissioned by Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, found decreasing levels of support for the plebiscite. Asked whether one supported having a plebiscite, 48% of respondents stated they did and 30% stated they did not. This marked a sharp drop in support for the plebiscite when contrasted with a June/July 2016 poll conducted by Fairfax Media and Ipsos, which found 69% approval for the plebiscite. In the Galaxy poll, the pro-plebiscite figure dropped to 35% when respondents were informed the plebiscite was not legally binding and dropped further to 25% when the $160 million expected cost of the plebiscite was raised. [37]
An August 2016 Essential Media poll found that 57% of respondents stated they would vote 'yes' in a plebiscite to the question; "Do you approve of a law to permit people of the same-sex to marry?" A further 28% of respondents stated they would vote 'no' and 15% were unsure. [38]
A poll carried out by the University of Melbourne in September 2016 found that Maranoa, in southwest Queensland, is the only electorate in the country where a majority of voters are opposed to same-sex marriage. The ten electorates most supportive of same-sex marriage are Sydney, Melbourne, Grayndler, Wentworth, Melbourne Ports, Wills, Gellibrand, Batman, Higgins and Brisbane. Less than 10% in Sydney and Melbourne are opposed to allowing same-sex couples to wed. [39]
A July 2017 Essential Media poll found that 63% of respondents believed same-sex couples should be allowed to marry, 25% of respondents believed same-sex couples should not be allowed to marry and 12% did not know. In response to the question "do you think the issue of same-sex marriage should be decided by Parliament or should there be a national vote", 59% favoured a national vote, 29% said it should be decided by parliament and 12% responded "don't know". [40]
In 2017, a voluntary, non-binding plebiscite was issued to gauge the country's support for same-sex marriage. [41] All Australian citizens who were enrolled to vote and aged 18 or older were sent a survey which asked; "Should the law be changed to allow same-sex couples to marry?" [42] In total, 12,727,920 surveys were returned (79.5%). Of these, 7,817,247 (61.6%) "Yes" votes were recorded, whilst 4,873,987 (38.4%) "No" votes were recorded. In addition, 36,686 (0.3%) votes were unclear either way. [42]
| Date | Firm | Support | Oppose | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 March 2018 | Essential [43] | 65% | 26% | 9% |
| 9 November 2017 | Lonergan Research [44] | 65% | 27% | 8% |
| 9 November 2017 | YouGov [45] | 60% | 32% | 8% |
| 28 September - 1 October 2017 | Essential [46] [47] | 61% | 32% | 7% |
| 15–18 September 2017 | Essential [48] [49] | 55% | 34% | 11% |
| 12 September - 7 November 2017 | Australian Bureau of Statistics [50] | 61.6% | 38.4% | 0.3% |
| 28 August - 6 September 2017 | Newgate Research [51] | 58.4% | 31.4% | 10.2% |
| 1–4 September 2017 | Essential [52] [53] | 59% | 31% | 11% |
| 17–22 August 2017 | Essential [54] [55] | 57% | 32% | 11% |
| 17–21 August 2017 | YouGov [56] | 59% | 33% | 8% |
| 17–20 August 2017 | Newspoll [57] | 63% | 30% | 7% |
| July 2017 | Essential [40] | 63% | 25% | 12% |
| July 2017 | YouGov [58] | 60% | 28% | 12% |
| February 2017 | Galaxy [59] | 66% | – | – |
| September 2016 | Newspoll [57] | 62% | 32% | 6% |
| August 2016 | Essential [38] | 57% | 28% | 15% |
| March 2016 | Essential [36] | 64% | 26% | 11% |
| March 2016 | Roy Morgan [60] | 76% | 24% | – |
| October 2015 | Essential [34] | 59% | 30% | 11% |
| August 2015 | Essential [31] | 60% | 31% | 10% |
| August 2015 | Ipsos [29] | 69% | 25% | 6% |
| July 2015 | ReachTEL [61] | 53.8% | 32.8% | 12.4% |
| June 2015 | Ipsos [26] | 68% | 25% | 7% |
| July 2014 | Newspoll [25] | 69% | 26% | 6% |
| July 2014 | Crosby Textor [22] | 72% | 21% | 7% |
| August 2013 | Nielson [18] | 65% | 28% | 7% |
| May 2013 | Ipsos [15] | 54% | 20% | 26% |
| May 2013 | Roy Morgan [62] | 65% | 35% | – |
| August 2012 | Galaxy [63] [64] | 64% | 30% | 5% |
| July 2011 | Roy Morgan [60] | 68% | 30% | 2% |
| October 2010 | Galaxy [7] | 62% | 33% | 5% |
| June 2009 | Galaxy [6] | 60% | 36% | 4% |
| June 2007 | Galaxy [4] | 57% | 37% | 6% |
| June 2004 | Newspoll [2] | 38% | 44% | 18% |
Same-sex marriage has been legal in France since 18 May 2013, making France the thirteenth country worldwide to allow same-sex couples to marry. The legislation applies to metropolitan France as well as to all French overseas departments and territories.
Same-sex marriage has been legal in Germany since 1 October 2017. A bill for the legalisation of same-sex marriage passed the Bundestag on 30 June 2017 and the Bundesrat on 7 July. It was signed into law on 20 July by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and published in the Federal Law Gazette on 28 July 2017. Previously, the governing CDU/CSU had refused to legislate on the issue of same-sex marriage. In June 2017, Chancellor Angela Merkel unexpectedly said she hoped the matter would be put to a conscience vote. Consequently, other party leaders organised for a vote to be held in the last week of June during the final legislative session before summer recess. The Bundestag passed the legislation on 30 June by 393 votes to 226, and it went into force on 1 October. Germany was the first country in Central Europe to legalise same-sex marriage, the 15th in Europe overall, and the 23rd worldwide.
Same-sex marriage has been legal in Ireland since 16 November 2015. A referendum on 22 May 2015 amended the Constitution of Ireland to provide that marriage is recognised irrespective of the sex of the partners. The measure was signed into law by the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, as the Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland on 29 August 2015. The Marriage Act 2015, passed by the Oireachtas on 22 October 2015 and signed into law by the Presidential Commission on 29 October 2015, gave legislative effect to the amendment. Same-sex marriages in the Republic of Ireland began being recognised from 16 November 2015, and the first marriage ceremonies of same-sex couples in Ireland occurred the following day.
Same-sex marriage is legal in all parts of the United Kingdom. As marriage is a devolved legislative matter, different parts of the United Kingdom legalised at different times; it has been recognised and performed in England and Wales since March 2014, in Scotland since December 2014, and in Northern Ireland since January 2020. Civil partnerships, which offer most, but not all, of the rights and benefits of marriage, have been recognised since 2005.
Same-sex marriage has been legally recognized in Washington since December 6, 2012. On February 13, 2012, Governor Christine Gregoire signed legislation that established full marriage rights for same-sex couples in the state of Washington. Opponents mounted a challenge that required voters to approve the statute at a referendum, which they did on November 6. The law took effect on December 6, and the first marriages were celebrated on December 9. Within a couple of days, more than 600 marriage licenses were issued to same-sex couples in King County alone.
Same-sex marriage has been legal in Australia since 9 December 2017. Legislation to allow it, the Marriage Amendment Act 2017, passed the Australian Parliament on 7 December 2017 and received royal assent from Governor-General Peter Cosgrove the following day. The law came into effect on 9 December, immediately recognising overseas same-sex marriages. The first same-sex wedding under Australian law was held on 15 December 2017. The passage of the law followed a voluntary postal survey of all Australians, in which 61.6% of respondents supported legalisation of same-sex marriage.
Public opinion of same-sex marriage in the United States has significantly changed since the 1990s, and an overwhelming majority of Americans now favor same-sex marriage.
Same-sex marriage is not legal in Israel, but the government has recognized same-sex marriages performed abroad since 2006. Prior to 2022, marriages performed in Israel were only valid when registered with one of the 15 religious marriage courts recognized by the state, none of which permit same-sex marriage. Consequently, Israeli same-sex couples who wished to have their marriages recognized by the government first had to marry outside Israel, in a jurisdiction where such marriages are legal, and then register upon returning home.
Hungary has recognized registered partnerships since 1 July 2009, offering same-sex couples nearly all the rights and benefits of marriage. Unregistered cohabitation for same-sex couples was recognised and placed on equal footing with the unregistered cohabitation of different-sex couples in 1996. However, same-sex marriage is prohibited by the 2011 Constitution of Hungary, which took effect in January 2012.
Japan does not recognize same-sex marriages or civil unions. Several municipalities and prefectures issue same-sex partnership certificates, which provide some benefits, but do not offer equal legal recognition. Most polls conducted since 2013 have found that a majority of Japanese people support the legalization of same-sex marriage or partnerships, and a 2018 poll found it supported by an overwhelming majority of those under age 60.
Same-sex marriage has been legally recognized in Pennsylvania since May 20, 2014, when a U.S. federal district court judge ruled that the state's 1996 statutory ban on recognizing same-sex marriage was unconstitutional. Governor Tom Corbett announced the following day that he would not appeal the decision. Pennsylvania had previously prohibited the recognition of same-sex marriage by statute since 1996, but had never added such a ban to its State Constitution.
Same-sex marriage has been legal in Ohio since the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, a landmark decision in which the court struck down the state's statutory and constitutional bans on same-sex marriage on June 26, 2015. The case was named after plaintiff Jim Obergefell, who sued the state of Ohio after officials refused to recognize his marriage on the death certificate of his husband. Same-sex marriages were performed in Ohio beginning shortly after the Supreme Court released its ruling, as local officials implemented the order.
Australian Marriage Equality (AME) was an advocacy group driven by volunteers who came together to pursue the legalisation of same-sex marriage in Australia. AME partnered with a diverse range of organisations and supporters across the country to end the exclusion of same-sex LGBTIQ couples from marriage in Australia. It was the pre-eminent group campaigning for same-sex marriage in Australia.
Same-sex marriage has been legal in Tennessee since the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges on June 26, 2015. Governor Bill Haslam quickly announced that the state would abide by the court's decision, and same-sex couples began to marry in Tennessee. Previously, Tennessee had banned same-sex marriage both by statute and its State Constitution.
Same-sex marriage has been legal in Virginia since October 6, 2014, following the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court not to hear an appeal of the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals' ruling in Bostic v. Schaefer. Same-sex marriages subsequently began at 1:00 p.m. on October 6 after the Fourth Circuit issued its mandate, and since then Virginia has performed legal marriages of same-sex couples and recognized out-of-state same-sex marriages. Previously, the state had passed a statute prohibiting same-sex marriage in 1975, and further restrictions were added in 1997 and 2004, which made "void and unenforceable" any arrangements between same-sex couples bestowing the "privileges or obligations of marriage". Voters approved an amendment to the Constitution of Virginia reinforcing the existing laws in 2006. On January 14, 2014, a U.S. district court judge ruled in Bostic that Virginia's statutory and constitutional ban on the state recognition of same-sex marriages were unconstitutional, a decision upheld by the Fourth Circuit on July 28, 2014.
Same-sex marriage has been legal in Georgia since the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges on June 26, 2015. Attorney General Sam Olens said that Georgia would "adhere to the ruling of the Court", and the first couple married just one hour after the ruling was handed down. Previously, Georgia had banned same-sex marriage both by statute and its State Constitution.
The 2015 Canning by-election was held for the Australian House of Representatives on Saturday 19 September from 8 am to 6 pm WST. The by-election in the seat of Canning was triggered by the death of sitting Liberal MP Don Randall on 21 July 2015.
Several research and polling firms conducted polls during the parliamentary term and prior to the 2016 Australian federal election on 2 July in relation to voting intention for the Australian House of Representatives and leader ratings. Most firms use the flow of preferences at the previous election to determine the two-party-preferred vote; others ask respondents to nominate their second preference before applying the preference flows at the previous election.
The history of same-sex marriage in Australia includes its express prohibition by the Howard government in 2004 and its eventual legalisation by the Parliament in December 2017. Although a same-sex marriage law was passed by the Australian Capital Territory in 2013, it was struck down by the High Court on the basis of inconsistency with federal law. The Court's decision closed the possibility of concurrent state or territory laws that would allow same-sex marriage where federal law did not. A law legalising same-sex marriage passed the Parliament on 7 December 2017 and received royal assent the following day.
The Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey was a national survey designed to gauge support for legalising same-sex marriage in Australia. The survey was held via the postal service between 12 September and 7 November 2017. Unlike voting in elections and referendums, which is compulsory in Australia, responding to the survey was voluntary.
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