On November 15, 2017, citizens of Australia had a vote to legalize gay marriage. The vote was 62% in favor of the legalization of same-sex marriage. The voting opened on September 12, and the people who registered to vote had until November 7. Before the public vote, Australia’s states and territories created laws on same-sex marriage. The country’s majority voted to have equality for all. As this is something that is important to the homosexual people who live in Australia, all they want is to be treated equally like everybody else does.

Librarian Renate Owen stated, “To me it’s big news because it shows we, as human beings, are capable of being a fair, accepting, and loving people despite our differences and varied beliefs. Australia also shows us that it can happen within a nation of people, as well.”

On December 7, 2017, Australia’s Parliament voted on the rights of gay marriage. The prime minister of Australia got the final signature on the bill, after waiting for Parliament to sign off on it. After Parliament voted on the bill, and the Prime Minister signed off on it, the law was set into place legalizing same-sex marriage. However, the country isn’t the first to legalize same sex marriage, that goes to the Netherlands back in 2001.

When asked why this is important, Owen explained, “It’s important in terms of equality and quality of life for all people. The New York Times reports that same-sex marriage legalization has brought about more tangible and positive effects of institutional acceptance. These effects include a 14 percent reduction in suicide attempts among lesbian, gay and bisexual teenagers, according to a study in the journal JAMA Pediatrics.”

In more recent American news, there is a Supreme Court case happening soon. The case involves Masterpiece Cakeshop and the Colorado Civil Rights Commision. This case is about Masterpiece Cakeshop, who refused to serve a wedding cake to a gay couple. Baker Jackson Phillip states the First Amendment, using the right of free speech and the free exercise of religion, defending him from Colorado public accommodation laws. These laws require businesses to serve everyone equally regardless of disability, race, color, sex, sexual orientation, and other personal orientations. The Trump administration supports Phillip and other business owners who refuse service to people with a different sexual orientation. First amendment lawyer Floyd Abrams states that “the anti-discrimination laws regulate commerce, not speech.”