On this issue, people love to go on about equality, but many gay people have deep suspicions about gay marriage. Why would you want to get married? Gay history and culture is completely different to heterosexuality - having a one-size-fits-all monogomous model for all relationships is ludicrous.

If it's about celebrating a relationship or formalising a partnership, anyone can do that. If gay people merely wanted to celebrate their love for each other, parks and function rooms would be filled with gay people having gay union ceremonies.

If it's about property rights; wills, bequests and superannuation now have the same rules for heterosexual and homosexual partnerships. The Rudd government DID do something about that (and then got howled down for not legalising gay marriage).

If it's about children, adoption and fostering is now open to unmarried gay couples. There is no longer a stigma attached to unmarried couples, so the lack of a marriage certificate is no obstacle to parenting or even inheritance. A huge number of children now grow up in sole parent families anyway.

If it's about social acceptance, why do you need a ceremony and legal structure that apes heterosexual marriage? Marriage is an institution based on property rights, bloodlines, and the will of parents. The choice of partners traditionally belonged to the parents, and involved a fee (a dowrie). Marriage was a way to control the breeding of successive generations and uphold the social order. Where does gay marriage fit into that?

Many if not most gay men are not monogomous. Let's face it, if you weren't tied down to one person, you'd play around, right? Gay marriage would only favour gay men in committed, long-term relationships. If you have gay marriage, it stands to reason you would also have a new boon for lawyers: gay divorce.

The social acceptance argument is solely symbolic. It says, why can't homosexuals be treated the same as anyone else? As in all other legal areas they are now the same, marriage is seen as the last step in extending equal rights. It's an argument that says, sure, I may not WANT to get married, but I should at least have that right. What's the problem? Why not just legalise it?

Sure, why not? Apart from a few die-hard old boys, who really cares?

But, by the same token, why waste hours of hot air arguing for a symbolic law that would - at best - effect the whims of a few thousand people? Legalising gay marriage is not going to stop violence, or prevent crime, or raise living standards.

At best, it will make a handful of old men feel "normal" when they sign into their B&B for the weekend - their GAY B&B, most likely.

Gay marriage is a complete distraction from real policies. It's a "values" issue - something that is meant to define your stance on a range of issues. You know, I support gay marriage, so I'm no knucklehead. I care.

But it also demonstrates a growing tendancy towards uniformity: the nuclear family, the two kids, the white picket fence. Instead of creating a range of options for human relationships, it puts its stamp on the traditional model of the nuclear family and aims to extend this to all relationships, regardless of gender or sexuality.

Gay marriage isn't about challenging family values, it's about strengthening them. It presents itself as a progressive, pluralist agenda whilst similtaneously promoting a deeply conservative set of values. How could it ever destroy the institution of marriage? If anything, the legalisation of gay marriage would strengthen it.

Instead of legalising gay marriage, they should ban marriage. There. Everbody happy? You're all equal now.

bobbythefap1 wrote on Jun 18^th, 2012 at 12:20pm:



Marriage has been persecuting gays?

Quote:


There is no "gay culture". There is a gay nightlife in a lot of places but its no different from the hetero singles clubs and bars. Just a way for ppl to meet up.

SOB

As a gay man , I support marriage equality because without it, it allows the devaluing of homosexuals within society.

This undervaluing pushes gay kids, kids of heterosexual/bi parents, to attempt suicide. Some are successful.

Marriage equality is a way of reducing youth suicide.

This is my main reason for supporting marriage equality.

So how about thinking of the kids and the parents, family, friends and community of these kids.

Enquiring mind wrote on Jun 18^th, 2012 at 2:25pm:


Heteros have the same things.

SOB

____ wrote on Jun 18^th, 2012 at 2:39pm:


Why would anyone commit suicide because they couldn't get married?

People commit suicide because they ARE married.

Changing the marriage act can do nothing more than giving a very small number of people the opportunity of formalising their relationships - that's all.

If the agenda of gay marriage is about changing "homophobic overtones", maybe it would be a lot simpler to just address the overtones.

Or not.

Enquiring mind wrote on Jun 18^th, 2012 at 2:53pm:



I am not talking about adults committing suicide, I am making a point of child suicide.

By devaluing gay relationships, this reinforces the homophobic undertones that being gay is being second class.

Gay children pick up on this undertone so commit suicide to exit a hateful society.

By removing homophobia from marriage, we reduce the number of child suicides.

And that saves a lot of pain to the heterosexual family, friends and community.

Think of the heterosexuals for a change.

Sir Spot of Borg wrote on Jun 18^th, 2012 at 3:03pm:


What do names matter. The content is what's important, and they do have a plethora of articles around gays and lesbians.