A re-elected Coalition government would hold a plebiscite on same-sex marriage which would allow everyone to have a say on its legalisation.

However, advocates have warned the process would give homophobes a platform to share their views, negatively impacting on the mental health of gender and sexually diverse people.

Gender, sexuality and intersex support service Working It Out is urging people to wear burgundy ribbons to demand respectful debate leading up to and following the potential plebiscite.

“We are very aware of anti-discrimination legislation, I think that’s vital, but we want people to be mindful of being responsible of others and what can offend,” executive officer Susan Ditter said.

“My first bit of advice would be to preface things with ‘It’s my belief’ or ‘It’s my opinion’.”

Family First senate candidate Peter Madden, who has repeatedly come under fire for his anti-same sex marriage views, said he also wanted respectful debate after receiving death threats and thousands of “hate tweets” for his opinions.

Mr Madden recently changed his campaign trailer focus from anti-same sex marriage to economic issues after being asked by his party to broaden his focus.

“I didn’t want to be disrespectful in any way, but there is a certain level of frustration on the no side that anyone who says no in any way is labelled a bigot or a homophobe without being heard,” he said.