The country of Australia has become a very split nation on the controversial topic of legalizing same-sex marriages, meaning between either two men or two women. Both sides of the controversy are using different forms of medias (television advertisement, radio, and social media) to persuade public opinion. The government has decided to allow the citizens of Australia to voice their own opinions in a nation-wide postal vote.
Since the postal vote was announced, different religious groups have begun the campaign against same-sex marriage, such as the group Coalition for Marriage. The group originally aired their advertisement against same-sex marriage on August 29, 2017, and then posted the advertisement on their YouTube channel Australian Christian Lobby later the same day. The advertisement contained three mothers voicing concerns for their children's welfare at school if the Parliament was to legalize same-sex marriage.
In an article by Isabella Kwai about the advertisement, she describes the mothers' fears of their sons possibly wearing dresses, pretending to role-play same-sex relationships and just like overseas if same-sex marriage is legalized it will become compulsory throughout Australia. The advertisement's final message tells the viewers "it's okay to say no". They mean that it is okay for parents to vote no on the postal vote in order to protect their children from the spread homosexuality.
Many believe that voluntary government programs, such as Safe Schools Coalition Australia, who's goal is to help schools be more inclusive and safer for homosexual and gender diverse students, teaching staff and families are going to make it compulsory if same-sex marriage is legalized. This idea was suggested by Australian Christian Lobby spokesman Lyle Shelton on radio 3AW, "If marriage is redefined in law we'll see what's happened overseas and that is parents losing their right to choose whether their children are exposed to radical LGBTQI sex education programs".
However, on the other hand, those who are for legalizing same-sex marriage are also using media to speak out. Australian YouTubers, such as TrentandLuke and HeyoDamo, recorded their reactions to the Coalition for Marriage's advertisement and spoke out about the advertisement and topic as a whole. Most notably, the YouTubers point out how allowing two consenting adults of the same-sex to get married would not truly affect children in schools. They argue by saying no the Australian government is just continuing the struggle for current LGBTQI peoples and future generations. They pick apart the arguments of same-sex marriage becoming compulsory like it has overseas by asking a simple question, "Overseas, they are forcing heterosexual people into gay marriages?" We know this not to be true, and these YouTubers realize that this social media platform is a fast and easy way to reach the public sphere with their opinions, especially the younger generations.