Tears as Australia allows same-sex marriages

Australia’s parliament voted yesterday to allow same-sex marriage across the nation, following a bitter debate settled by a government survey of voters that strongly endorsed change.

The public gallery in the House of Representatives erupted with applause when the bill was passed. It changes the definition of marriage to “a union of two people”. Champagne and tears flowed in Parliament House as gay celebrities including Ian Thorpe, the Olympic swimmer, and Magda Szubanski, the actress, hugged lawmakers and members of the public.