An overwhelming 85% of LGBTIQ Australians oppose having a plebiscite on marriage equality.

A new survey has shown that an overwhelming 85% of LGBTIQ Australians oppose having a plebiscite on marriage equality and 71.5% strongly oppose it.

Respondents were asked if they opposed a plebiscite under any circumstances with 62.6% saying even if it was “fairly framed” and there was a likelihood of success they still opposed it.

This survey is the largest of its kind to be conducted with a sample of close to 5,500 respondents. The survey also reported that opposition is strong with both men and women for every age group in every state and territory.

Designed by social scientist Dr Sharon Dane, respondents were recruited from across Australia through community media, religious groups, sporting clubs, business networks, parenting groups, and social clubs.

Dr. Dane stated, “The use of multiple recruitment strategies, including the services of a professional marketing company, and the wide demographic distribution of the participants, indicate the survey represents a broad cross-section of the Australian LGBTIQ community.”

The survey was funded by Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) and was also endorsed by the new LGBTIQ advocacy group, just.equal.

A spokesperson for PFLAG Shelley Argent said, “The missing voice in the plebiscite debate has been the LGBTIQ community. Now they have spoken and emphatically said ‘no’ to a plebiscite under any circumstances.”

Argent also highlighted that the survey confirmed that advocacy groups opposed to the plebiscite “are doing the right thing by actively working to stop the plebiscite and secure a free vote, especially given the very good chance a plebiscite will be set up to fail.”

She has called upon the LGBTIQ community to unite “behind what the community has clearly said it wants.”

She went on to say that if Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull continued with the plebiscite it was only for the sake “of anti-equality groups and for his own sake.”

Rodney Croome also highlighted “The LGBTIQ community understands a plebiscite will delay marriage equality, not expedite it, and will damage the lives of vulnerable LGBTIQ people, not improve them.”

Continuing, Croome also pointed out the concerns of many about the negative impact of hate speech on the mental health of LGBTIQ people as well as having rights “being subject to a show of hands”.

The survey showed that the two most common reasons people had to oppose a plebiscite were “anxiety of hate campaigns and the strong belief that minority rights should never be put to a popular vote.”