#AustraliaSaidYes: Celebrations as postal vote gives thumbs up to same-sex marriage

Australia is set to become the latest country to legalise same-sex marriage, following a postal vote that has ended in a resounding victory for advocates of gay marriage.

After months of controversial and occasionally heated national debate, Australians voted in favour of legalising same-sex marriage by 61.6% to 38.4%, with a turnout of almost 80%.

Crowds of LGBT Australians and their allies gathered in major cities to see the vote tally announced live, greeting the result with jubilation:

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Across Australia, it was a welcome day for campaigners who have long been calling for same-sex relationships to enjoy the same status as heterosexual partnerships:

South Australian senator Penny Wong, who in 2007 became Australia’s first LGBT cabinet minister, dissolved into tears of joy as the postal tally was read out. She has two children with her female partner:

Congratulations poured in from world leaders and celebrities alike:

While, at home, the iconic Sydney Opera House marked the result with a spectacular light display:

With Australia’s parliament now likely to legalise same-sex marriage within weeks, for many gay couples it was time to pop the question:

For some couples, the vote signalled an end to a very long wait:

Same-sex couples eager to tie to knot should not have much longer to wait. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who voted ‘yes’ in the plebiscite, has urged Parliament to ‘get on with it’ and legalise gay marriage before the Christmas break.