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Australian legend Magda Szubanski has been a champion for marriage equality during the postal survey process. Matthew Wade spoke with her about stepping up to the plate.

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When rapper Macklemore performed his LGBTI-affirming hit Same Love at the recent , Australian legend Magda Szubanski began to cry.

Not because it was a beautiful performance or a moving song 聽– though it was both of those things – but because the idea that gay rights would be championed on a stage as big as a national sporting field was inconceivable to her as a child.

鈥淚t was really just unthinkable when I was younger that one day at a rugby match there would be someone singing a song in support of our community,鈥� she says.

鈥淲hen I was young all we were trying to do was stop [being gay] from being illegal, and I couldn鈥檛 conceive of the idea that we would get to the point where we could get married.

鈥淚t really affected me terribly at the time, being the sensitive thing I was, I was crippled with internalised homophobia. There were no positive role models back then and most people just actively loathed us.鈥�

Szubanski is an undisputed national treasure, adored by fans the country over as a writer, actor, and comedian. She鈥檚 starred in both television and film, most notably for her character Sharon Strzelecki in the widely acclaimed series Kath and Kim.

However, it wasn鈥檛 until recently she decided to come out, spurred in part by what she describes as her 鈥渘atural sense鈥� for social justice.

And since the postal survey on marriage equality has been a hot button issue, she鈥檚 been at the forefront of advocating a 鈥榶es鈥� vote, telling her story and encouraging Australians to post their ballots.

鈥淭he fact that people are outraged on our behalf and are fighting for us is worlds away from where we were when I was young, and that鈥檚 thanks to the brave work of people who paved the way,鈥� she says.

鈥淚鈥檓 just picking up the bat now. Whether I鈥檓 gay or straight, it doesn鈥檛 matter.

鈥淚 knew I had to say something, and want to do all I can to support our community through all of this.鈥�

Szubanski believes wholeheartedly that the marriage debate and the postal survey it spawned is reflective of a select group of politicians, and not the general Australian population.

She pinpoints former Prime Minister Tony Abbott as one of the ringleaders.

鈥淭his has nothing to do with the people, this is politics,鈥� she says.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 what makes me cross – it鈥檚 politicians on their own end trying to keep their jobs, stirring up fear and hatred. Tony Abbott is the principle architect of this, it鈥檚 mass bullying.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not reflective of the spirit of the people. I think Australians are fair minded people and we get the whole principle of 鈥榣ive and let live鈥�.

鈥淏ut the No campaign are muddying the water. It鈥檚 a political campaign strategy they鈥檙e using against a minority group, it鈥檚 unforgivable and it鈥檚 classic scapegoating.鈥�

It鈥檚 been a particularly harrowing two months for Szubanski, who, along with pressure of a postal survey on her rights as a gay woman, also lost her mother.

However, amid the vitriol and hate from No campaigners, she says she鈥檚 found comfort in the solidarity being shown between LGBTI people and their straight allies.

鈥淚 would say, if anyone鈥檚 feeling down to look at my Instagram page, because there are thousands of positive messages,鈥� she says.

鈥淎s LGBTI people we鈥檝e all survived in one way or another through negative times, so we鈥檙e resilient and have learned a great deal.

鈥淏ut it鈥檚 important to look after one another in the gay community and try not to be triggered by what we鈥檙e hearing or seeing.鈥�

While she says she鈥檚 a 鈥減erennially鈥� single woman and that it鈥檚 hard to find love, marriage equality is so important for the many same-sex attracted people who do find it.

鈥淲hen you do find love, it鈥檚 really important to be able to declare that in front of family and friends,鈥� she says.

鈥淚 really, really want this for young people, and I want it for older people as well who have suffered, and may have been with their partner for 40 or 50 years.

鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 matter what anyone thinks of you, you鈥檙e a beautiful and worthy human being.鈥�

When it comes to how Australia might win a 鈥榶es鈥� vote, Szubanski urges young people to make sure they get out there and post their ballots.

鈥淚 want to impress on young people to get out there and vote, you have to post it,鈥� she says.

鈥淚f you鈥檙e feeling vulnerable there are a lot more people out there to support you now than there has ever been in the past.

鈥淒on鈥檛 feel like the nation鈥檚 against us, because it isn鈥檛.鈥�