MULTICULTURAL AUSTRALIANS THANKED FOR VOTING YES IN THE POSTAL SURVEY

Multicultural community leaders and the Australian film industry have launched a new ad thanking Australians who voted Yes in the marriage equality postal survey.

The video, produced by Sarah Freeman with executive producer Tony Ayres and the team from Matchbox Pictures, acknowledges that voting Yes was a difficult decision for many people from religious, migrant, or conservative backgrounds.

“Millions of Australians have voted yes and although we don’t know the outcome yet, we know that for some people voting yes was hard but we are so glad they did,” said Yes Alliance President Dr Judy Tang.

The Yes Alliance, representing 32 multicultural and faith-based community groups, said voting Yes for marriage equality is consistent with Australia’s enviable record of fostering a diverse, open, and welcoming society.

Almost one in two Australian was born overseas or is a second generation Australian, and more than one in four Australians speak a language other than English at home, according to the 2016 census.

“Together, we have built a place where people from every corner of the world can live and work side by side—a place where everyone can belong,” Dr Tang said.

“Marriage equality is the next step in ensuring ours remains a tolerant and respectful society.”

Film industry professionals donated their time to create the ad to coincide with the conclusion of the postal vote period.

Inspired by real conversations between LGBTI people and their families, the ad tells the story of a woman from a conservative migrant background voting Yes for the love of her gay son.

“For me, it was pretty easy to say yes because I’m gay and I may or may not want to get married but I want to have the choice,” Ayres said.

“For other people, it’s more difficult because they are religious, or come from an immigrant background or more conservative background. That’s a story that has not been told.

“We hope this ad will be a gesture towards healing between the conflicting sides.”