A new analysis undertaken by Melbourne-based LGBT rights activist, Tony Pitman, has revealed that there are now 700 million people worldwide living in jurisdictions with full marriage equality.

by Newsdesk | 3rd January 2014

Pitman, a spokesman for Melbourne Ports Residents for Marriage Equality, first undertook this analysis in July 2013. At that time the figure was 607 million people. Now, six months later, the number has risen to 700 million.

“That’s an increase of 93 million in just six months. It’s quite extraordinary! It also means that marriage equality is now a reality for almost 10 per cent of the entire world’s population; another extraordinary figure!” said Tony.

“It makes you wonder how many more people will achieve marriage equality before Australians also attain this basic human right. 100 million? 300 million? It’s embarrassing that Australia is so far behind the rest of the world on this issue.”

Last month same-sex marriage law was overturned by the High Court in the only part of Austraila where it was legal in the Capital Territory.

Over the last six months the jurisdictions that achieved marriage equality were England and Wales, as well as five states of the USA; New Jersey, Hawaii, Illinois, New Mexico and Utah.