This Australian grandma is voting for equal marriage so her granddaughter can get married
An Australian grandma features in an adorable new video voting for equal marriage.
Australia is currently holding a public vote on whether same-sex couples should be allowed to marry.
Polling has shown that support for equality is highest among younger voters, while older voters are much more likely to be opposed.
But that isn’t enough to stop one grandma from voting Yes.
Australian Marriage Equality released a video which shows an elderly grandmother, Jean, on her way to post her Yes vote.
In the clip she explains: “My youngest granddaughter has grown into a very loyal, very kind, loving girl, and I’m so proud of her.
“Gabby and Rosie are happy and settled and married. And that’s what I want for them.
“It is very important to say Yes to make them happy, and it will obviously make me very happy if Gabby and Rosie are happy and settled and married, and that’s what I want for them.”
Jean is shown loading her wheelchair into the car as she and Gabby head to the postbox, ready to cast their postal votes for equality.
On the way, she explains: “We’re going to post a letter! A very important letter! Everybody vote Yes, Yes, Y-E-S!
“I don’t know what more I can do to help them, only to talk to people.”
On the way to the post box, Nanna Jean heckles at passers-by: “Hey, you fellas, vote yes!”
They reply: “Hear, hear.”
The positive clip has gone down well online, countering the negative ‘No’ campaign.
One commenter wrote: “This is truly beautiful. It sums up so succinctly what this really is all about. Happiness and fairness.”
Another added: “My 72 year old dad and 70 year old mum couldn’t wait for the vote to come out just so they could vote yes!!!”
Check out the clip below:
There has been an ugly spate of homophobic incidents in the country as it holds a public vote on equal marriage.
Earlier this week a mother in Melbourne was sent a letter threatening her children after she put up a rainbow flag.
Last month a cafe was threatened with arson for supporting the Yes campaign while a 14 year old girl received a death threat for supporting marriage equality on social media.
PinkNews revealed last month that the anti-LGBT Coalition for Marriage is telling activists to play to fears over gay sex and gender issues.
The group bills itself as a “grassroots movement” that will be on “the front line to defend traditional marriage in Australia”.
At an induction session for Coalition for Marriage activists attended by a PinkNews reporter, the group’s campaign leadership told activists to play up fears over “radical gay sex education” and transgender issues.
Three Australian Prime Ministers were at loggerheads over equal marriage this week, as anti-gay former PM Tony Abbott viciously mocked former PM Bob Hawke after Hawke criticised the vote called by current Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull.
Tony Abbott has become the most prominent voice of the anti-gay lobby as Australia votes on equal marriage – alienating much of his own family in the process.
After Abbott suggested it would be “best” for his gay sister’s children to be raised by a straight couple, his own daughter Frances spoke out for equality, appearing in a TV ad on the opposing side of the debate to her dad.
The ex-leader has taken his opposition to LGBT rights to surreal extremes, lashing out at “transgender marriage” and demanding censorship of a Macklemore performance over gay anthem ‘Same Love’.
The Equality Campaign last month released a video and image of former Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke, 87, backing the YES campaign for marriage equality.
The Equality Campaign’s Alex Greenwich said: “Our campaign is delighted to have the support of one of the greatest Australian Prime Ministers because he is a man who has always believed in a fair go and this is simply what our campaign is about.
“Bob Hawke is showing leadership for a fair go and like millions of Australians wants to get this done.
“Marriage equality is a straightforward question of fairness and equality. Every Australian should be treated equally under the law and that includes being able to marry the person they love.
“Every Australian should be treated with the same dignity and respect and that is why we encourage everyone to vote YES and post back their survey immediately.”
He added: “We have been so encouraged by supporters across the nation who are getting behind the campaign for equality because this vote is about whether the members of our families, friends, neighbours, work colleagues and team mates will be afforded the same status and dignity as every other Australian.
“Civil marriage equality will not a change anything for the vast majority of Australians but it will make a profound difference to the lives and dignity of LGBTI Australians.
“This is and must be a unifying moment for the nation as we include all Australians in our marriage laws and send a powerful message that every Australian is equal.”
