Canberra same-sex marriage advocates are bracing for "two months of horror" in the wake of the High Court's decision to allow a postal vote on the issue.
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On Thursday afternoon the High Court ruled the voluntary, non-binding vote could go ahead, following legal challenges by marriage equality supporters.
Marriage equality campaigner Veronica Wensing said she was disappointed the challenge failed, and was concerned about the level of public vitriol the postal survey would generate.
"I think it's completely out of order to get members of the general public to scrutinise and judge others' personal relationships," she said.
"It should just be a free vote in Parliament. Now it's a question of bracing ourselves for two months of horror."
Ms Wensing was among the 31 couples who married in the ACT in 2013 during a five day window in which same-sex marriage was legalised.
Although the decision to uphold the postal survey was disappointing, she said she would now turn her attention to campaigning for marriage equality.
"All systems are go now," she said.
"I'll be out there campaigning and doing whatever it takes.
"Not necessarily to persuade no votes, but to get yes voters to put that postal ballot in the box."
Chief Minister Andrew Barr criticised the looming postal vote as "cruel" and "a new low in Australian politics".
"It's not fair that LGBTQI Australians will be forced to endure a nasty debate about their lives, their families and the validity of their relationships," he said.
"As such, it's time for everybody who believes in fairness and equality to stand up together and make our voices heard," he added.
"All members of the ACT government will campaign strongly for equality over the coming months, as I know many Canberrans will."
Between Tuesday and Wednesday the High Court considered two similar challenges to the validity of the postal vote.
One was brought by independent MP Andrew Wilkie, the other by the Australian Marriage Equality group.
These parties argued the Turnbull government did not have the authority to appropriate the $122 million needed to conduct the vote.
The key dates for the plebiscite are September 12, when the ABS begins posting out ballots; November 7, when responses have to be received and November 15, when the result will be announced.
