Image: INQUIRER.net stock photo
Chris Hemsworth is encouraging fellow Australians to make their vote count for marriage equality.
The “Thor” actor wrote: “Dear open minded, free speaking, laid back, life loving aussies. Marriage is about love and commitment and, in a country based on equal citizenship, it should be available to everyone! Vote now for marriage equality.”
The country is rolling out the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey to determine the population’s view on marriage for same-sex couples.
Aussies have until midnight on August 24 to register or update their enrollment details with the Australian Electoral Commission.
After they enroll, Australians will be mailed forms by September 25 and need to send back their responses by November 7.
The form asks, “Should the law be changed to allow same-sex couples to marry?”
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says he would follow the majority vote on legalizing same-sex marriage in the country.
However, he would also respect a “no” and will not have a free vote in Parliament should that be the outcome.
The survey is not a formal election and has been criticized by same-sex marriage supporters as a waste of money—the postal poll racks up to AU$122 million (P4.9 trillion).
Same-sex marriage opponents have been ramping up campaigns to vote “no,” one of which used American singer Meghan Trainor and her song “No” in an ad.
The singer slammed the group for using her picture and has spoken up in support for marriage equality.
Trainor clarified that she supported marriage equality: “Someone in Australia is illegally using my picture for a campaign against marriage equality. So wrong.”
I SUPPORT MARRIAGE EQUALITY!Someone in Australia is illegally using my picture for a campaign against marriage equality. So wrong. Not okay
— Meghan Trainor (@Meghan_Trainor) August 23, 2017
American pop singer Miley Cyrus, American comedian Ellen Degeneres and British comedian Stephen Fry have also called on Australians to vote yes.
“Everyone deserves to love and marry who they choose! I will be even more proud to call myself Aus by association,” Cyrus quipped, as she is engaged to Hemsworth’s brother Liam. JB
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