Widespread support for viral #thisiswhy marriage equality Facebook post

A SHORT Facebook post made by Lara Ryan on Sunday this week that details why marriage equality is needed has gone viral, with almost 60,000 shares just five days.

The post, seen below, reveals a heartbreaking story of how Ryan lost her wife, Elise, and the ordeal she had gone through following her wife’s death. It also revealed her love for her.

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Elise was struck by a car on February 9 while walking their four-year-old daughter home from day care.

Speaking with Buzzfeed News, Ryan said she “wasn’t normally political” about marriage equality or sexuality.

“We had a wedding, we’ve lived together for 10 years, we’ve had a baby. It’s never been an issue – I’m happy in my little life, there are bigger issues in the world,” she said.

However, following her wife’s death, Australian bureaucracy added to her grief.

“I had spent the day on the phone to Centrelink, to my health insurance company, Medicare – just having to fill in ridiculous forms and boxes I couldn’t tick,” she said.

On social media, Ryan received plenty of support from around Australia and the world, and her post began the #thisiswhy trend.

Heartbreaking. #thisiswhy we need marriage equality. Thanks for sharing your story, Lara pic.twitter.com/twEV9hWF20

— Shane Bazzi (@shanebazzi) March 1, 2016

#thisiswhy I support marriage equality pic.twitter.com/YA4gbfwLDs

— jigglin for justice (@khaanye) March 1, 2016

”Marriage equality isn’t about marriage. It’s about equality” #thisiswhy #MarriageEquality #ame

— Trouble (@Mikjell16) March 2, 2016

#thisiswhy when my 3 day old son died & his other mum couldn’t sign the consent for autopsy. I had to come back, mental with grief to sign.

— tilly devine (@tillydevine11) March 2, 2016

@TurnbullMalcolm tell your friends in your party room #thisiswhy #marriage equality matters https://t.co/zLChyPUo58

— Anne Hurni (@amhurni) March 1, 2016

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