Sam Smith just donated a huge chunk of money to the Australian marriage equality campaign
Now that's putting money where your mouth is.
UK singer Sam Smith has made a considerable donation to the Australian pro-marriage equality campaign, reports The Sydney Morning Herald.
The Grammy-winning artist has pledged a third of the expected profits from his January 2018 show at the Sydney Opera House to lobby group Australian Marriage Equality.
Australians are smack bang in the middle of a non-binding, non-compulsory nationwide postal survey asking the question: "Should the law be changed to allow same-sex couples to marry?"
Australian Marriage Equality told SMH that Smith's donation was made in advance of tickets going on sale in order to assist their current national "Yes" campaign — convincing Australians to vote for same-sex marriage. The remainder will go to support services for LGBTQ youth.
Smith is playing in the Opera House's Concert Hall, which has a capacity of over 2,000. With tickets ranging from AU$79.90 to AU$149.90 ($62.48 to $117.21), let's just say this donation won't be small — could be upwards of AU$50,000 ($39,000) if they book the whole venue out.
It's a bloody good day for same-sex marriage supporters too, considering PayPal just pledged to match single donations to the YES campaign of $250 or less, to a total of $50,000.
An email from Australian Marriage Equality email went out on Thursday:
Smith has already been quite vocal about Australia's marriage equality debate. In September, he posted a heartfelt Instagram urging Australians to vote for same-sex marriage to be legalised:
Earlier in the month, when activists from the anti-same-sex marriage campaign decided to skywrite the word "No" over Melbourne, Smith posted his disbelief on Twitter:
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
Smith has become the latest international celebrity to throw his support behind Australia's marriage equality debate, following "Yes" social media posts from the likes of Elton John, Ellen DeGeneres and more.
The Australian postal survey results will be announced on Nov. 15, after which the issue will be voted upon in federal parliament.
Shannon Connellan is Mashable's UK Editor based in London, formerly Mashable's Australia Editor, but emotionally, she lives in the Creel House. A Tomatometer-approved critic, Shannon writes about entertainment, tech, social good, science, culture, and Australian horror.
