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Anti marriage equality campaigners vow to fight on despite ‘media bias’

The Marriage Alliance has told supporters they will continue to fight against the reforms following the ‘Yes’ vote’s survey win today, arguing “huge media bias” and a “widespread attack on supporters” were reasons the No vote did not get over the line.

Australians voted 61.6% in favour of same sex marriage, while 38.4% voted No, The Australian Bureau of Statistics announced this morning.

The ‘Yes’ win was announced by the ABS this morning.

Ahead of the postal vote period a number of agencies and media companies came forward saying they would not be involved in the No campaign.

It started with a ‘Say No to No’ pledge from creative agency The Royals, which was later supported by a number of adland’s top agencies across the country.

Around the same time an email campaign named ‘OK to Say No’ was sent out, asking marketers who had publicly declined to work for opponents of marriage equality to rethink their decision.

The ABC was urged to remain impartial in their stance, while other media companies including the major TV networks said they would accept advertising from both sides.

Independent publications such as Mamamia, Pedestrian and Guardian Australia had an alternative stance. 

“Despite the huge media bias against the No campaign, and widespread attacks on supporters of true marriage, millions of Australians voted against radically changing one of our key social institutions,” the organisation said in an email following the results announcement.

“However, it wasn’t enough to get us over the line — with the final result being 61.6% to 38.4% in favour of ‘Yes’.

“While this is obviously disappointing, we must shift our attention immediately to the challenge ahead.

“Throughout the campaign, supporters of same-sex marriage — including many leading politicians — claimed there would no adverse consequences to redefining marriage.

“It is now vital that we hold them to their word.”

But the team thanked those No voters for being part of the “historic campaign”.

“We may not have achieved the result we wanted, but we have been truly humbled by the massive role Marriage Alliance supporters have played over the past few weeks.

“We are grateful for your ongoing support as the campaign enters this new and even more challenging phase.”

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