An Australian sign language interpreter captured the attention of social media users Wednesday during a live television broadcast announcing the results of the country’s a landmark survey to determine whether to move ahead on legalizing same-sex marriage.
David W. Kalisch of the Australian Bureau of Statistics announced 61.6 per cent of eligible voters cast ‘yes’ ballots in the national vote.
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“For the national results, yes responses, 7,817,247 representing 61.6 per cent of clear responses. That’s 61.6 per cent of clear responses were yes,” Kalisch revealed. “No responses, 4,873,987, representing 38.4 per cent of clear responses.”
But it was the sign language interpreter delivering the results next to Kalisch, who was identified as Mandy Dolujsi by the Daily Telegraph, who caused Twitter to light up.
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The Evening Standard reported social media users praising Dolujsi a “true hero” after making mistakes in her signing after becoming overwhelmed with emotion in response to the results.
According to users, Dolujsi repeatedly signed apologies for her mistakes during the live broadcast.
Almost 80 per cent of the country’s eligible voters took part in the survey โ a higher voter turnout than Britain’s Brexit vote and Ireland’s same-sex marriage referendum.
The result of the poll is non-binding but the government has pledged to put a proposal to parliament if voters were in favour of same-sex marriage.
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Following the announced results, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said on Wednesday his government will seek to pass legislation to legalize same-sex marriage by the end of the year.
“The Australian people have spoken in their millions and they have voted overwhelmingly yes for marriage equality,” he said. “They voted yes for fairness, they voted yes for commitment, they voted yes for love.”
-With files from Reuters.
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