How Powerful We Are: Behind the scenes with one of Australia's leading activists

by Sally Rugg

'Incisive, blistering and tender. Sally is one of our most valiant warriors.' - Clementine Ford, author of FIGHT LIKE A GIRL and BOYS WILL BE BOYS

'Proof that the personal is always political - and love really can save the world.' - Jamila Rizvi, author of NOT JUST LUCKY

'Rugg's passion and insight make for a propulsive tale' - Sydney Morning Herald

Even if you're not an activist (yet), at a time when the news is written for clicks and elections are fought with three-word slogans, it's crucial to preserve some record of events that isn't 'fake news' or political spin. In part, this book is my attempt to counter the re-writing of how Australia achieved one of the most significant social changes in a generation.

Sally Rugg is one of Australia's most influential campaigners for social change. HOW POWERFUL WE ARE is her manifesto for championing what you believe is right.

In these pages Sally will teach you some of the things she learnt on the marriage equality campaign: how to develop a strategy, how to frame your messages, how to get your campaign to the media, how to build community power. And she'll share with you the much harder lessons learnt: the consequences of campaign decisions; how to weather criticism and harassment from every angle; and how, in mass campaign movements, nothing is black and white.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics, Australia, Queer, LGBT, Activism, Audiobook

272 pages, Hardcover

First published August 27, 2019

Reviews

[Carly Findlay · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellently written, well researched book on the Marriage Equality campaign. It details Sally’s work at GetUp, as well as many people throughout history who fought for LGBTIQA rights. It is angry yet gentle - an insight into just how fucked up the postal survey was, and how much work went on to bring the yes vote.

I liked how Sally wrote about the impact of the postal survey on LGBTIQA+ people, their children and families, and how she noted that there are many other LGBTIQA+ issues to give attention to, even though marriage equality has been achieved. There are also some gems for how to campaign in the book.

I also liked how Sally called on diverse members of the LGBTIQA+ community to provide their views, but I would have liked to have read some views from Disabled people.

How Powerful We Are is an important book showing how activists can change the world for the better. Sally is so very clever and her leadership is incredible. It’s so important for people with privilege to stand back and listen to marginalised people, and this book made me do just that. Thanks Sally.

I listened to the audiobook and think Sally has a nice voice.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book unfairly punished by its necessary probing into Australian politics – a space which is utterly uninspiring, insipid and enraging. Still, it's impossible not to embrace the emotional crescendo as the now known ending unfolds.

[Natasha (jouljet) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A blistering and vulnerable, informative and insightful manifesto on activism, and the inner workings of the 2017 Australian postal survey on Marriage Equality. The highs, the lows, the tear-inducing wins and the heart-hollowing losses. All laid bare through the words and eyes of someone who lived it so completely.

Much insight into the Australian political landscape, from the factions, and the deals, the hurtful words, to that day when song and joy broke out in the House of Representatives when the Bill was finally, finally passed.

The strategy from the Yes campaign, and to inner working. The beautiful, meaningful moments. The honouring those before, and those who didn't make it through to see this victory. This proud 1 hopes she influenced a few 2s in her circle, remembers where she was for the survey announcement, and has teared up several times in reading this incredible book.

This is a must read for all Aussies who care about equality, justice, and will continue to fight and remain vigilant.

[Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having followed along in real time with the 'yes' camp for years and whilst working in news around the point in time covered here I'd heard most of the content of this book before, what was most interesting was the behind the scenes look at the politics involved and the solid understanding of the propaganda/PR model in media that Rugg has. The targeted messaging used went after the win rather than trying to convince every last Australian which is something a lot of people on twitter don't seem to understand when petitioning for change. HPWA is well rounded with historical references and an in depth look into a vast array of opinions held at the time, personal stories, horrific realities of homophobia and the stress the plebiscite caused a lot of people. Rugg also did well to explain just how gross the coalition and various politicians were, before, during and after the vote and that although the laws changed under a Liberal government, they fought it every step of the way and do not deserve any credit.

[Alicia Gibbs · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m so glad I read this book. I’m a queer woman but I was largely insulated from the negative effects of the postal survey in Australia by the love and support of family and friends. I had times of immense anger and sadness (every time I saw No campaigners being given a mainstream platform to spew hateful lies; driving to work in the morning and seeing a group of people dangling a No banner over a freeway overpass - they really didn’t have anything better to do with their morning than fight to deny me and mine equal rights?!), but I was privileged to have unwavering support at work, at home and in my social circles. And I constantly saw myself - a white, able-bodied, cisgender women - reflected in the Yes campaign. That’s something I hadn’t really thought about before, and is a reason I needed to read this book.

I’m also a social worker determined to fight against social injustice and fight for a fairer society. I do most of my activism within my very small circles of influence. I have difficult conversations with family, colleagues, car pool buddies - quietly but consistently opposing the dominant narratives about people seeking asylum in Australia, people experiencing homelessness and our First Nations people. This book laid out the process of how social change was created at a much broader level, and that’s the main reason I was interested in reading this book.

I appreciated the book and I particularly enjoyed Sally Rugg’s conversational writing style, but ultimately I was left feeling not sure where I go from here. I live in a world full of social injustice, but being a driving force in large scale social change seems more unattainable to me than ever. I suppose I need to hold hope that each of my difficult conversations and small acts of defiance are all contributing to a larger movement towards a fairer and kinder society. Sometimes easier said than done.

Thank you Sally for reminding me How Powerful We Are.

[silky · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book if you want to learn a lot more about how campaigning works. The book is very thorough in all the details, as well as highlighting what worked and what didn't.

The campaign received the desired outcome but it didn't come without a lot of scarfices and people who were unfairly pushed aside in order to achieve the Yes outcome, but the author does well in mentioning these criticisms.

I really enjoyed this book as so much discussion of politics online is centred around the U.S and it was really informative to focus on Australian politics for once. I also listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed hearing Rugg's passion for her community and the campaign.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow tbh read this if u want to feel really angry at the liberal party lol
really cool n interesting book and very fun to get the insights into what was happening behind the scenes but hollyyy moly it's so frustrating to read so much of it and how like unaware so many politicians were of the toll the survey took on queer australians,, and that 23 marriage equality bills were put to parl between 2004 and 2017, before it actually passed ??? ridiculous !!! why do aLL of our govs suck so much tbh !!!
anyway i recommend reading only if u are willing to relive a little trauma from 2017, like it is a good read but defs a little painful

[Xanthe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t expect this to be as emotional as it was, I don’t know why considering that I remember exactly where I was when I found out that marriage equality had passed, I was coding in class and spent the rest of the day trying not to cry and telling myself that it was because I was a strong ally and a real big empath (spoiler alert I just was bisexual). What a informative and emotional read that entwines campaign strategies that I’ve heard my fellow school strikers echo and personal stories of the communities that has persevered through so much. What a great book.

[Thomas Feng · Rating 4 out of 5]

An honest, thoughtful and tactful recount of a momentous campaign to achieve marriage equality in Australia. My favourite parts are Sally's admissions of where the campaign fell short (i.e. not being inclusive of people of colour and trans, intersex communities), and the lessons she hopes others will take from these admissions and the campaign more broadly. If you work in the social change sector, are campaigning for something, or are interested in LGBTIQA+ rights or Australian politics, you will enjoy this book.

[Kramer Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this to be generally engaging and interesting. I particularly liked when Rugg went into more detail regarding the activism she and her allies were involved in and the particularities of the political back and forth.

[Isaac · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perhaps more organised campaigners will find this less so, but I feel I got some insights into the tactical choices made by organisers. I also cried in my lunchroom at one point, but never mind that.

[Ali · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was underwhelming! I don’t really understand why there’s so many good reviews on this one.

For a book titled, How powerful WE are, it was very me oriented and sort of self indulgent really. The book is supposed to be a reflection on the campaigning and activism that ultimately led to marriage equality in Australia. I thought this would be an interesting modern history book and elements of it were that but it was poorly written and didn’t seem to flow well with lots of “this was so hard for me”, “this was so unfair” disrupting the plot.

I actually found this book hard to read for how short and simple the writing was just because I found it boring in parts and kept Having to try and work out what her point was exactly.

I think this book is a victim of bad editing. Sally isn’t a writer, she’s an activist with a lived experience to report. Good editing could have directed this book to focus more on the topic and less on the writer (as it wasn’t supposed to be a memoir!)

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant. Intelligent, articulate, thoroughly researched, honest, entertaining and engaging.

[Alycia Ashcroft · Rating 5 out of 5]

I felt like Sally was sitting across me and she spoke to me about this incredible, heartbreaking and inspiring story of her life. Sally breaks downs the ins and outs of the political systems we are in and how activism works. To hear the stories of so many LGBTIQ community members during the traumatic postal vote was humbling and insightful.
Thank you for recording the history of marriage equality from 1970s, and the postal survey. Hopefully ensuring we won't have to ever endure something like that again.
Thank you for your honest criticism and praise of the campaign.
I think every Australian should read this book.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a tough read. I mean, it was well written, it just chronicles a lot of horrible events, and what concessions/compromises were made. All those beautiful souls put through such torment. The worst people given way too big a platform to spout their hate. I know it was meant to give hope, about what we can achieve when we work for what's right. But I'm mostly sad, and anxious thinking back to those days, and the battles still to come.

Sally Rugg is a treasure though! And it's a good and important book.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 'How Powerful We Area' Sally Rugg gives an insiders account of the campaign for marriage equality. I enjoyed the insights into campaign strategy, with Rugg drawing a very compelling picture of just what it takes to achieve successful change. The very human insights into egos, conflict and personal distress that Rugg brings were also fascinating; a reminder that this campaign - like many - had profoundly personal implications.

[emily wind · Rating 5 out of 5]

endlessly grateful to sally rugg for documenting the journey to marriage equality in australia, and to everyone who was involved in making it (finally) happen behind-the-scenes. the 2017 plebiscite was an extremely difficult time for many, myself included. reading this brought back a lot of memories and whilst some parts were difficult to read, the book was also filled with a lot of hope - i cried many times throughout.

[Hermine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Parts of this made my heart hurt and want to cry thinking abut the hurt inflicted on the LGBTQI+ community, simply for political power for a select few. But there was also tears of a good kind, reading and reflecting on the triumph of the marriage equality campaigners and the hard work of those behind the scenes. Sally shares her insights on what goes into crafting a campaign and I have a new appreciation and hope for how we can make the world better as a collective.

[Elisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed from cover to cover. In an entertaining and informative way Sally details her experience through the plebiscite, as a key member of one of the most influential activist groups involved in the fight. It’s super refreshing reading about things that can be intimidating, such as parliamentary processes, in such a relatable and entertaining way. Highly recommend for anyone interested in understanding how change is made in Australia.

[Melanie Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant.
Sally really captured the shit fight that is and was our government. I am now married to my wife, thanks to the whole LGBTQI+ community and everyone who was involved in getting us there. What a monumental effort. We still have a long way to go.
I encourage everyone who doesn’t fully understand the topic to have a read.

[Mel]

Finishing this as the Barrett confirmation is moments away, as politicians use pandemic to score points, as one of the more crucial elections in a decade of crucial elections looms, as we continue to lock up children and refugees and roll back rights I didn't even know I wanted or didn't have before I realised I was queer . . . boy that last tag hits like a punch in the breadbasket.

[Sean Finn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terrible. I am a Yes voter, however I cringed throughout this book at the man bashing and constant overly exaggerated harm felt by the author and her group. No doubt that words do harm, but this is no excuse to fill half a book with sobbing.

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic primer on understanding how social progress is really made, and how Australian activists can win campaigns. I learned so much about the fight for marriage equality, which happened before I was politically aware.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating look behind the scenes of the hard work it took to get a Yes majority back in the marriage equality postal survey.

[WildWoila · Rating 2 out of 5]

A sparky insider's account of the campaign for marriage equality. I hoped it would explore theories of change making but it mostly dwelt in the details.

[Gia (지아) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unapologetic, gay, and beautiful! I felt myself smiling, cringing, growing red with anger, and brimming with tears throughout this book. Sally, thank you for fanning the flames of activism in me.

[k xox · Rating 4 out of 5]

sorrowful, exhilarating, joyful all in one book

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was in Australia for the plebiscite and so I just wasn’t expecting to be SO moved by the ending. I ugly cried. Full of detail about activism and Australian politics, never dull. A+ stuff!

[Nez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Misleading title; it should have just been something like - The Campaign for Marriage Equality in Australia.

A bit too much detail that I wasn’t interested in.

[Madeleine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cried six times reading it and another two times (and counting) afterwards. Read this book.