A new opinion poll has found Australian Christians back marriage equality and don’t want the reform to include extra discrimination exemptions.

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A Galaxy Research poll of 1000 Australian Christians released today showed 54% support for same-sex couples being allowed to marry, 77% support for a free vote in parliament as soon as possible, and 49% opposition to civil celebrants being about to refuse their services to same-sex couples on the basis of the celebrant’s conscientious belief.

The survey also found 61% of Christians are unhappy with conservative religious groups representing the views of all Christians, including 55% of regular church-goers.

The poll was commissioned by Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, a support group for the fmailies of LGBTIQ people.

National spokesperson, Shelley Argent said the poll was another sign that the government needed to take action on the issue.

“With Australian Christians so conclusively behind marriage equality, it’s time for politicians to have a free vote and get this done.”

“Changes to the Marriage Act have always been made through the parliamentary process and should remain so.”

Argent said it was time for the government to stop listening to conservative Christian voices because they did not accurately represent what Australians wanted.

“Politicians should stop paying so much attention to conservative Christian advocacy organisations which a majority of Christians feel don’t represent them.”

“As a mother I want my gay son to have the same rights and responsibilities as his brother. One of the rights being the right to legally marry his partner and have it recognised in his home country.”

Long-time marriage equality advocate and spokesperson for just.equal, Rodney Croome, said the government needed to recognise that Christians supported marriage equality.

“Not only do Christians support marriage equality, they want it resolved in Parliament ASAP and they don’t want any further legal discrimination once same-sex couples are able to walk down the aisle.”

“It’s important that politicians understand that Australians don’t believe equality comes in half measures and don’t want new forms of discrimination to replace an old one.”

The polls comes as the long running debate over marriage equality looks set to come to a head when parliament returns in August.

Liberal Senator, Dean Smith, is expected to introduce marriage equality legislation sometime after Parliament resumes, but Nationals colleague Barry O’Sullivan has vowed to use ‘any means necessary’ to get the government to sign up to the proposal for a postal based plebiscite.

OIP Staff