[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] hello this is Emma is how I answer my
hello this is Emma is how I answer my
hello this is Emma is how I answer my phone
phone
phone it saves a few precious seconds on every
it saves a few precious seconds on every
it saves a few precious seconds on every call I learned it on my first campaign
call I learned it on my first campaign
call I learned it on my first campaign with my very first cell phone a pink
with my very first cell phone a pink
with my very first cell phone a pink blackberry mini I was 17 and got into
blackberry mini I was 17 and got into
blackberry mini I was 17 and got into the campaign because my friend Emily
the campaign because my friend Emily
the campaign because my friend Emily asked me to go door knocking with her
asked me to go door knocking with her
asked me to go door knocking with her one Saturday afternoon after a few
one Saturday afternoon after a few
one Saturday afternoon after a few conversations with strangers I was
conversations with strangers I was
conversations with strangers I was hooked
hooked
hooked what captured my heart in that first
what captured my heart in that first
what captured my heart in that first campaign was building connections and
campaign was building connections and
campaign was building connections and connecting others to new people and
connecting others to new people and
connecting others to new people and experiences field campaigning
experiences field campaigning
experiences field campaigning facilitates deep friendships amongst
facilitates deep friendships amongst
facilitates deep friendships amongst volunteers and through phone calling and
volunteers and through phone calling and
volunteers and through phone calling and door-knocking
door-knocking
door-knocking enables hundreds of conversations
enables hundreds of conversations
enables hundreds of conversations throughout the community I was a young
throughout the community I was a young
throughout the community I was a young idealist and this was a clear actionable
idealist and this was a clear actionable
idealist and this was a clear actionable way to change the world campaigning has
way to change the world campaigning has
way to change the world campaigning has brought me all over the world from that
brought me all over the world from that
brought me all over the world from that first campaign in my home town in
first campaign in my home town in
first campaign in my home town in northern Minnesota to San Francisco from
northern Minnesota to San Francisco from
northern Minnesota to San Francisco from Wisconsin to truth and Tobago and most
Wisconsin to truth and Tobago and most
Wisconsin to truth and Tobago and most recently Western Australia I’ve lived in
recently Western Australia I’ve lived in
recently Western Australia I’ve lived in Perth for about 18 months now I came out
Perth for about 18 months now I came out
Perth for about 18 months now I came out here to work on two electoral projects
here to work on two electoral projects
here to work on two electoral projects lucky that because I was able to witness
lucky that because I was able to witness
lucky that because I was able to witness a very important campaign two months ago
a very important campaign two months ago
a very important campaign two months ago I started on the marriage equality
I started on the marriage equality
I started on the marriage equality campaign as a WI state coordinator
campaign as a WI state coordinator
campaign as a WI state coordinator before we get started I have to add I am
before we get started I have to add I am
before we get started I have to add I am an ally in this fight and I’m a white
an ally in this fight and I’m a white
an ally in this fight and I’m a white this is hetero female I was raised by a
this is hetero female I was raised by a
this is hetero female I was raised by a village of gay and lesbian artists Andy
village of gay and lesbian artists Andy
village of gay and lesbian artists Andy and Andrew sandy and Rochelle Jeff and
and Andrew sandy and Rochelle Jeff and
and Andrew sandy and Rochelle Jeff and David and Chuck Chuck actually gave me
David and Chuck Chuck actually gave me
David and Chuck Chuck actually gave me my first pair of heels
my first pair of heels
my first pair of heels glow-in-the-dark platforms size 11
glow-in-the-dark platforms size 11
glow-in-the-dark platforms size 11 they are my family and absolutely shaped
they are my family and absolutely shaped
they are my family and absolutely shaped Who I am today they are who I was
Who I am today they are who I was
Who I am today they are who I was fighting for four days ago Australia
fighting for four days ago Australia
fighting for four days ago Australia finished voting on whether the same-sex
finished voting on whether the same-sex
finished voting on whether the same-sex marriage should be legal four days from
marriage should be legal four days from
marriage should be legal four days from now we will know the result right now
now we will know the result right now
now we will know the result right now here today we are in a suspended moment
here today we are in a suspended moment
here today we are in a suspended moment the ball is in the air where the
the ball is in the air where the
the ball is in the air where the campaigning is over and we can discuss
campaigning is over and we can discuss
campaigning is over and we can discuss the process without the results clouding
the process without the results clouding
the process without the results clouding the analysis the process was
the analysis the process was
the analysis the process was unprecedented
unprecedented
unprecedented it was a non-binding voluntary postal
it was a non-binding voluntary postal
it was a non-binding voluntary postal survey conducted by the Australian
survey conducted by the Australian
survey conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics the ABS not the
Bureau of Statistics the ABS not the
Bureau of Statistics the ABS not the Australian Electoral Commission I had a
Australian Electoral Commission I had a
Australian Electoral Commission I had a voting period of about six weeks and
voting period of about six weeks and
voting period of about six weeks and cost the government more than 120
cost the government more than 120
cost the government more than 120 million dollars when we talk about
million dollars when we talk about
million dollars when we talk about change and how a change comes about
change and how a change comes about
change and how a change comes about society it comes down to top-down change
society it comes down to top-down change
society it comes down to top-down change or bottom-up change
or bottom-up change
or bottom-up change top-down change is when the institution
top-down change is when the institution
top-down change is when the institution at the top makes an executive decision
at the top makes an executive decision
at the top makes an executive decision and the public fights or falls within
and the public fights or falls within
and the public fights or falls within that system bottom-up change occurs when
that system bottom-up change occurs when
that system bottom-up change occurs when individuals independently create change
individuals independently create change
individuals independently create change and that becomes the collective norm or
and that becomes the collective norm or
and that becomes the collective norm or system an example of top-down change is
system an example of top-down change is
system an example of top-down change is in the US when the Supreme Court decided
in the US when the Supreme Court decided
in the US when the Supreme Court decided that same-sex marriage was legal what
that same-sex marriage was legal what
that same-sex marriage was legal what that meant practically was you could be
that meant practically was you could be
that meant practically was you could be super out and proud on the coasts but it
super out and proud on the coasts but it
super out and proud on the coasts but it was still difficult to be queer in the
was still difficult to be queer in the
was still difficult to be queer in the middle of the country we just hadn’t had
middle of the country we just hadn’t had
middle of the country we just hadn’t had that conversation yet here in Australia
that conversation yet here in Australia
that conversation yet here in Australia this same-sex marriage postal survey is
this same-sex marriage postal survey is
this same-sex marriage postal survey is forcing a bottom-up change in our
forcing a bottom-up change in our
forcing a bottom-up change in our culture where individuals are having
culture where individuals are having
culture where individuals are having conversations and demonstrations
conversations and demonstrations
conversations and demonstrations throughout regional and Metro Australia
throughout regional and Metro Australia
throughout regional and Metro Australia about same-sex marriage and broadly the
about same-sex marriage and broadly the
about same-sex marriage and broadly the rights of LGBTI Kew people top-down
rights of LGBTI Kew people top-down
rights of LGBTI Kew people top-down decisions are necessary at times don’t
decisions are necessary at times don’t
decisions are necessary at times don’t get me wrong but genuine cultural
get me wrong but genuine cultural
get me wrong but genuine cultural acceptance comes from bottom up change
acceptance comes from bottom up change
acceptance comes from bottom up change where people sit in living rooms dining
where people sit in living rooms dining
where people sit in living rooms dining rooms sports clubs and at the pub to
rooms sports clubs and at the pub to
rooms sports clubs and at the pub to discuss and discover our shared values
discuss and discover our shared values
discuss and discover our shared values as a community and you can only create
as a community and you can only create
as a community and you can only create bottom-up change if the public is
bottom-up change if the public is
bottom-up change if the public is engaged and part
engaged and part
engaged and part dissipating only if there is high
dissipating only if there is high
dissipating only if there is high participation can you create bottom-up
participation can you create bottom-up
participation can you create bottom-up change there is objective evidence to
change there is objective evidence to
change there is objective evidence to the high participation rate in this
the high participation rate in this
the high participation rate in this campaign for a non-binding voluntary
campaign for a non-binding voluntary
campaign for a non-binding voluntary postal survey the ABS has released the
postal survey the ABS has released the
postal survey the ABS has released the most current estimates of voter turnout
most current estimates of voter turnout
most current estimates of voter turnout is seventy eight point five percent
is seventy eight point five percent
is seventy eight point five percent twelve point six million Australians
twelve point six million Australians
twelve point six million Australians have returned their survey this beats
have returned their survey this beats
have returned their survey this beats voter turnout for brexit for Trump and
voter turnout for brexit for Trump and
voter turnout for brexit for Trump and for the Ireland constitutional record
for the Ireland constitutional record
for the Ireland constitutional record referendum and when you consider
referendum and when you consider
referendum and when you consider Australian local government elections
Australian local government elections
Australian local government elections [Music]
[Music]
[Music] non-binding voluntary postal surveys
non-binding voluntary postal surveys
non-binding voluntary postal surveys over a multi week voting period voter
over a multi week voting period voter
over a multi week voting period voter turnout is estimated about twenty to
turnout is estimated about twenty to
turnout is estimated about twenty to thirty percent I have witnessed few
thirty percent I have witnessed few
thirty percent I have witnessed few examples of truly organic participation
examples of truly organic participation
examples of truly organic participation it simply defies my two rules of
it simply defies my two rules of
it simply defies my two rules of campaigning which are one no one cares
campaigning which are one no one cares
campaigning which are one no one cares about your issue and two everyone is
about your issue and two everyone is
about your issue and two everyone is lazy those are the barriers we have to
lazy those are the barriers we have to
lazy those are the barriers we have to overcome every single day on the
overcome every single day on the
overcome every single day on the campaign trail but not on this campaign
campaign trail but not on this campaign
campaign trail but not on this campaign people got active and were proactive
people got active and were proactive
people got active and were proactive about their engagement without being
about their engagement without being
about their engagement without being asked let me tell you about my friends
asked let me tell you about my friends
asked let me tell you about my friends younger brother
younger brother
younger brother this guy was typically apathetic didn’t
this guy was typically apathetic didn’t
this guy was typically apathetic didn’t give two shakes about politics or
give two shakes about politics or
give two shakes about politics or current affairs but when he discovered
current affairs but when he discovered
current affairs but when he discovered that all the surveys in his apartment
that all the surveys in his apartment
that all the surveys in his apartment building had been damaged and stolen he
building had been damaged and stolen he
building had been damaged and stolen he took it upon himself to a figure out how
took it upon himself to a figure out how
took it upon himself to a figure out how to replace a survey be replace them for
to replace a survey be replace them for
to replace a survey be replace them for every apartment in his building and see
every apartment in his building and see
every apartment in his building and see drafted up a note explaining what
drafted up a note explaining what
drafted up a note explaining what happened in the instructions on how to
happened in the instructions on how to
happened in the instructions on how to replace a survey he then took it one
replace a survey he then took it one
replace a survey he then took it one step further and posted those
step further and posted those
step further and posted those instructions up at his workplace that is
instructions up at his workplace that is
instructions up at his workplace that is an incredible amount of effort and
an incredible amount of effort and
an incredible amount of effort and initiative for someone to take without
initiative for someone to take without
initiative for someone to take without being asked
being asked
being asked bottom-up change occurs when individuals
bottom-up change occurs when individuals
bottom-up change occurs when individuals like this take it on it inspires them to
like this take it on it inspires them to
like this take it on it inspires them to identify solutions and to act so why was
identify solutions and to act so why was
identify solutions and to act so why was there such high participation well one
there such high participation well one
there such high participation well one reason is that LGBT IQ rights are a
reason is that LGBT IQ rights are a
reason is that LGBT IQ rights are a global issue
global issue
global issue it crosses class race gender age able
it crosses class race gender age able
it crosses class race gender age able Ness every single ISM that is unifying
Ness every single ISM that is unifying
Ness every single ISM that is unifying in itself the people from a variety of
in itself the people from a variety of
in itself the people from a variety of backgrounds share this common thread
backgrounds share this common thread
backgrounds share this common thread that global nature is overwhelming and
that global nature is overwhelming and
that global nature is overwhelming and that motivates people to act
that motivates people to act
that motivates people to act another reason is due to the simplicity
another reason is due to the simplicity
another reason is due to the simplicity the question should the law be change to
the question should the law be change to
the question should the law be change to allow same-sex couples to marry no major
allow same-sex couples to marry no major
allow same-sex couples to marry no major economic ramifications or complicated
economic ramifications or complicated
economic ramifications or complicated systems to consider just about marriage
systems to consider just about marriage
systems to consider just about marriage that inspired people to get active and
that inspired people to get active and
that inspired people to get active and take it on in a whole bunch of ways
take it on in a whole bunch of ways
take it on in a whole bunch of ways one example is businesses both large and
one example is businesses both large and
one example is businesses both large and small took it upon themselves to make a
small took it upon themselves to make a
small took it upon themselves to make a rainbow version of their logo or a
rainbow version of their logo or a
rainbow version of their logo or a clever slogan sports organizations like
clever slogan sports organizations like
clever slogan sports organizations like the Australian Football League and
the Australian Football League and
the Australian Football League and National Rugby League stood by their at
National Rugby League stood by their at
National Rugby League stood by their at support in the face of media and
support in the face of media and
support in the face of media and political backlash entire neighbourhoods
political backlash entire neighbourhoods
political backlash entire neighbourhoods gathered to paint a fence or chalk the
gathered to paint a fence or chalk the
gathered to paint a fence or chalk the sidewalk nurses and security guards wore
sidewalk nurses and security guards wore
sidewalk nurses and security guards wore badges to show their support while at
badges to show their support while at
badges to show their support while at work and most of this activity was not
work and most of this activity was not
work and most of this activity was not organized by the central campaign some
organized by the central campaign some
organized by the central campaign some said our campaign was leaderless lacking
said our campaign was leaderless lacking
said our campaign was leaderless lacking a single figurehead but that was its
a single figurehead but that was its
a single figurehead but that was its strength in the everyday people
strength in the everyday people
strength in the everyday people everywhere took it upon themselves to
everywhere took it upon themselves to
everywhere took it upon themselves to lead in their own way perhaps most
lead in their own way perhaps most
lead in their own way perhaps most surprising to me given my political
surprising to me given my political
surprising to me given my political background were the different political
background were the different political
background were the different political parties and ideologies that came
parties and ideologies that came
parties and ideologies that came together around this issue if our
together around this issue if our
together around this issue if our beliefs were a Venn diagram we would
beliefs were a Venn diagram we would
beliefs were a Venn diagram we would overlap on a very thin margin however
overlap on a very thin margin however
overlap on a very thin margin however this middle ground provide an
this middle ground provide an
this middle ground provide an opportunity for us to get to know one
opportunity for us to get to know one
opportunity for us to get to know one another on an individual level Sonia and
another on an individual level Sonia and
another on an individual level Sonia and Suzette were volunteers on the campaign
Suzette were volunteers on the campaign
Suzette were volunteers on the campaign one is a union organizer the other is a
one is a union organizer the other is a
one is a union organizer the other is a former Liberal Party staffer one was
former Liberal Party staffer one was
former Liberal Party staffer one was apprehensive about meeting her first
apprehensive about meeting her first
apprehensive about meeting her first liberal the other disliked unionists
liberal the other disliked unionists
liberal the other disliked unionists they come from the left and right of the
they come from the left and right of the
they come from the left and right of the political spectrum a highly unexpected
political spectrum a highly unexpected
political spectrum a highly unexpected friendship indeed through volunteering
friendship indeed through volunteering
friendship indeed through volunteering on this campaign they’ve developed an
on this campaign they’ve developed an
on this campaign they’ve developed an understanding and
understanding and
understanding and for each other’s work and respect for
for each other’s work and respect for
for each other’s work and respect for one another despite their political
one another despite their political
one another despite their political differences all these individuals and
differences all these individuals and
differences all these individuals and organizations got active and got engaged
organizations got active and got engaged
organizations got active and got engaged on their own so there are three reasons
on their own so there are three reasons
on their own so there are three reasons why high participation generates
why high participation generates
why high participation generates bottom-up change one is that when
bottom-up change one is that when
bottom-up change one is that when individuals campaign it is so pervasive
individuals campaign it is so pervasive
individuals campaign it is so pervasive everyone is talking about this issue in
everyone is talking about this issue in
everyone is talking about this issue in different spaces spaces where values
different spaces spaces where values
different spaces spaces where values based conversations like politics and
based conversations like politics and
based conversations like politics and religion are usually avoided these are
religion are usually avoided these are
religion are usually avoided these are new conversations to is that people
new conversations to is that people
new conversations to is that people share their personal story they’re
share their personal story they’re
share their personal story they’re having the tough conversations one by
having the tough conversations one by
having the tough conversations one by one through their personal network
one through their personal network
one through their personal network sharing stories and experiences changes
sharing stories and experiences changes
sharing stories and experiences changes the way people view an issue third is it
the way people view an issue third is it
the way people view an issue third is it because this is happening colleague to
because this is happening colleague to
because this is happening colleague to colleague friend to friend neighbor to
colleague friend to friend neighbor to
colleague friend to friend neighbor to neighbor we’re identifying our shared
neighbor we’re identifying our shared
neighbor we’re identifying our shared values identifying our shared values is
values identifying our shared values is
values identifying our shared values is so powerful because once we’ve decided
so powerful because once we’ve decided
so powerful because once we’ve decided on and named those values we can stand
on and named those values we can stand
on and named those values we can stand by them and fight for them proudly as a
by them and fight for them proudly as a
by them and fight for them proudly as a united community this conversation was
united community this conversation was
united community this conversation was not always respectful and the entire
not always respectful and the entire
not always respectful and the entire exercise caused enormous pain on the
exercise caused enormous pain on the
exercise caused enormous pain on the LGBT iq+ community asking any segments
LGBT iq+ community asking any segments
LGBT iq+ community asking any segments of society to vote going cap in hand to
of society to vote going cap in hand to
of society to vote going cap in hand to their neighbors asking for their dignity
their neighbors asking for their dignity
their neighbors asking for their dignity and self-worth is immensely painful this
and self-worth is immensely painful this
and self-worth is immensely painful this mechanism for decision making was
mechanism for decision making was
mechanism for decision making was unprecedented and was pushed to a public
unprecedented and was pushed to a public
unprecedented and was pushed to a public debate due to a failure of leadership in
debate due to a failure of leadership in
debate due to a failure of leadership in our representative democracy
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
some even though we didn’t ask for this
some even though we didn’t ask for this win lose or draw we cannot deny that the
win lose or draw we cannot deny that the
win lose or draw we cannot deny that the bottom of change has occurred high
bottom of change has occurred high
bottom of change has occurred high participation and individual engagement
participation and individual engagement
participation and individual engagement drives activity into communities in
drives activity into communities in
drives activity into communities in unique and unexpected ways that forces
unique and unexpected ways that forces
unique and unexpected ways that forces new conversations conversations that
new conversations conversations that
new conversations conversations that share information and experiences which
share information and experiences which
share information and experiences which spreads understanding and empathy by
spreads understanding and empathy by
spreads understanding and empathy by having these conversations we identify
having these conversations we identify
having these conversations we identify our shared values and collective
our shared values and collective
our shared values and collective identity that creates change on an
identity that creates change on an
identity that creates change on an individual level from the bottom up
individual level from the bottom up
individual level from the bottom up thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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