SSM Plebiscite

[Thryleon]

My point is that marriage isn't going to be re-defined if the 'yes' vote gets up and parliament passes legislation.  All that will do is to take things back to how they were before Little Johnny Howard re-defined marriage to suit his values in 2004.  That was done immediately after the UK Parliament passed the Civil Partnership Act 2004 which gave same-sex couples the same legal rights as heterosexual couples.  Of course, the Civil Partnership Act 2004 was replaced by the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013.  It's ironic that our society is more conservative than the 'whinging Poms' we like to deride.

I usually have the ABC radio on when I'm in my workshop and I hear all sorts of people trying to justify their position on marriage equality.  It's not really a debate; one side argues for equality, the other side talks about the evils of the Safe Schools Program or tries to invent a biblical prohibition on same-sex marriage.  One f-wit went so far as to suggest that Hitler did the right thing when he sent homosexuals to concentration camps  :o

I grew up in an era in which homosexuals were vilified and 'poofter bashing' was an accepted form of amusement.  My views have changed and I have LGBTIQ friends and family members who are no threat to me and my way of life.  I can't say that about the religious right and their intolerance of anything that doesn't conform to their narrow view of the world.

I have watched Penny Wong debate Cory Bernardi and cringed at his despicable insinuation that allowing same-sex marriage will lead to bestiality.  I also heard on the news today that a man was convicted of marrying a 14 year old girl despite welfare officers telling him, the child and the child's mother that it would be illegal.  The faith of those involved wasn't disclosed but I think that I am confident in believing that it is one that is opposed to same-sex marriage.

And what about the young couple whose marriage in a Presbyterian church was cancelled because the bride to be posted something in favour of marriage equality on Facebook?  How dare that so-called minister destroy the hopes of a faithful young couple because their views are more progressive than his warped sense of what is right?

I think that people have every right to debate this issue; but with facts, not bigoted, sectarian tripe  >

missed the point I was trying to make entirely.

I can't communicate it well enough.