Marriage Vote Coming in Australia?

Members of Australia's parliament are pushing for a vote on marriage equality, even though the nation remains deeply divided on the issue.

On Wednesday, 20 parliament members revealed the results of local surveys on same-sex marriage. Only about 2% voice support for same-sex marriage in the northeastern state of Queensland, while nearly 90% of those near Melbourne want gay marriage recognized.

Parliament members voiced support for a conscience vote on the issue, especially those in favor of marriage equality.

"I think there are very strong-held views about this issue and where there are strongly held views, historically we have often determined to have a conscience vote whereby people regard it as a moral issue," Labor MP Anthony Albanese told reporters, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.

Both gay rights supporters and right-wing groups antagonistic to marriage equality have been gathering signatures to present to parliament, with the gay marriage supporters gathering 48,000 signatures and the opposition culling 52,500.

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