Despite their disagreement over tactics, both Salt Shakers (SS) and the Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) are working hard to prevent gay civil unions being legalised around the nation. On Thursday 8 June, Melbourne’s Herald Sun and Age newspapers ran online polls with similar wording. ‘Do you support gay unions?’ asked the Herald Sun. ‘Do you support gay marriage?’ asked the Age.

Both SS and ACL emailed their supporters asking them to vote and thoughtfully providing the ‘No’ vote number, but only mentioned the Herald Sun poll. This poll was promptly inundated with ‘No’ votes, finishing up with a whopping 82%-18% ‘No’ majority. ‘We WON’, exulted SS. ‘Australians have clearly voted’, intoned ACL.

Neither group even mentioned the Age poll result. By 9am, this poll was reporting a 73-27 split in favour of ‘Yes’. Similar figures were reported throughout the day, with ‘Yes’ drifting up to 78% early in the afternoon and closing at 76%. It’s worth noting that the form of the Age question was stronger than that in the Herald Sun, asking directly about ‘gay marriage’ rather than mere ‘unions’.

Interesting disparity between the two polls, isn’t it? Let us pray that our Christian brothers and sisters did not succumb to temptation and cast multiple votes and that they will be mindful of the maxim that ends do not justify means. In the meantime, I really think the Age poll result has much more credibility.

Filed in: Sexuality