Young follow through on stance

THE results of the same-sex marriage postal survey are here and we young people in Geelong have raised our voices.

Many people, myself included, doubted the number of young who would vote, but it’s clear we have voted with our hearts and feet, with our participation rates as proof.

As a 22-year-old, I remained cautiously certain throughout that people in my age bracket would be in favour. Among my inner circle, peers and random acquaintances on Facebook alike, the message was clear that those aged 18-29 supported equality.

But I was concerned about the number of young people who would vote.

Expressing support through a Facebook status or Instagram like is one thing, but whether young people would post their votes when push came to shove was another.

Each day I became increasingly concerned this survey was biased towards those who have grown up using letters rather than emails or texts to communicate. Gradually, I began to see messages criticising the process that had been chosen, and not only because of its extreme cost. I couldn’t help but fear that my generation, most of whom struggle to remember a time without internet, were too disenfranchised by the technology — or lack thereof — that was chosen to conduct the survey to collectively voice what I was sure would be a majority “Yes” vote. Many others and I had heavy hearts before the results were even announced. But after finding out the results, I can hardly wipe away the smile. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that in each age bracket (18-19, 20-24, 25-29), more than two-thirds of those in the Corangamite and Corio electorates successfully returned their votes in time for them to make an impact.

Despite any confusion about the process, it is clear young people in Geelong recognised the importance of letting go of any angst regarding the way the vote was counted in order to carve an inclusive future for all.

Having surveyed those at Deakin’s waterfront campus, countless of my peers are all ecstatic to hear our votes have made the impact we wanted, even if it took a long time.

After all, it is we millennials who will be around the longest to reap the benefits of our country embracing same-sex marriage, we who will set a new standard of equality in Australia and we who will raise the next generation, who hopefully, will be shocked to learn there was a time samesex marriage wasn’t legal.