Yes Yes Yes: Australia's Journey to Marriage Equality

by Alex Greenwich, Shirleene Robinson

Yes Yes Yes, written by two advocates intimately involved in the struggle for marriage equality, reveals the untold story of how a grassroots movement won hearts and minds and transformed a country. From its tentative origins in 2004, through to a groundswell of public support, everyday people contributed so much to see marriage equality become law. The book captures the passion that propelled the movement forward, weaving together stories of heartbreak, hope and triumph. It is based on personal memories and more than twenty interviews with key figures and everyday advocates from across Australia. It covers the movement's origins in 2004, when the Marriage Act of 1961 was amended to exclude same-sex couples, through to the unsuccessful High Court challenge, a public vote in 2017 and the Parliamentary aftermath. It reminds us that social change is possible and that love is love.

Genres: LGBT, Nonfiction

336 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2018

Reviews

[Benjamin Farr · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent, balanced and factual account of the journey that Australian LGBTQI people (and their friends, families and allies) were dragged through to achieve marriage equality.

[David Beards · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has taken me almost 4 months to finish. It was soooooo boring! Yes, they did a wonderful job fighting for marriage equality for all of those years, but this book is not an interesting capture of that. Its basically a chronology of events with 1000’s of names thrust at you.

[Michael Franklin · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to understand what made marriage equality possible, this is the definitive book. This book includes the stories of people you will know like Penny Wong and Magda and Ian Thorpe too but it also gives the credit to ordinary Australians for all their efforts. I learned a lot about how politics works and the behind the scenes efforts that helped make it possible. It made me cry but also proud.

[Alexa Blart, Library Cop · Rating 3 out of 5]

I LOVED THIS SO MUCH. Parts of it were hard to get through because I, raised in the US, barely understand US government most days, let alone the particulars of Australian government. I know who the current PM is and that's as good as that's going to get, but I was mostly able to follow along. It's absolutely staggering and inspiring how a small group of people working at the grassroots level snowballed into a movement that managed to effect such a profound change. I'm moved, I'm inspired, I'm maybe crying a little?? I can't believe I missed the Yes party on Oxford Street due to a WEDNESDAY NIGHT BABYSITTING COMMITMENT.

[Olivia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Graham Willett said it best in his January 2019 review - “The book's focus is on stories – stories are very popular at the moment. And it is easy to see why. Many of them are very moving and do help us understand what motivates people to become, and to remain, politically active. But the risk with stories is that they crowd out analysis.”

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.smh....

[Juno Babić · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy to ready but very politic-y which I’m not THAT interested in tbh! But was interesting to get the scoop on which politicians fought hard against marriage equality (fuck you julia Gillard)! The last chapter was the best, reading about all the couples who could finally get married when it was legalised. Sad to think how many died before they got the same opportunity because our politicians tried to delay it as long as possible

[Matt Akersten · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful insiders’ look at the incredible people power that changed Australian history. After every possible hurdle was put against them, the campaign triumphed and we are all so grateful. This is 100% an inspiring book about making real change for a powerful cause.

[Chris Patrick Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where this book wins for me is in its ability to break the massive story of marriage equality down into the human stories of the people who made it happen. However, sometimes it felt like a book-length acknowledgements section, which is a very sweet tribute but isn’t necessarily what I came here for. Still learned a thing or two, and I’m glad I read it. 3.75ish/5