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Gay marriage postal vote sparks fury, debate in Australia

32 Comments
By Peter PARKS

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I must say, a lot of this makes me mad. Say no to protect freedom of speech and religion? What kind of bullcrap is that? It's not like you HAVE to get married to someone of your own sex now! It really is time to move forward on this issue. I do not understand why people still want to pander to the religious nuts that can't wrap their heads around people living differently than them.

11 ( +12 / -1 )

freedom of and from religion = vote yes!

9 ( +10 / -1 )

I think more people these days have figured out that gay people are just people. Sexual preference aside gay folks are just like everyone else.

12 ( +13 / -1 )

gay folks are just like everyone else.

Except, they make a point of telling everyone they are gay, of course. Every gay person I have ever met has boldly announced "I am gay!" within the first few seconds of a conversation. My response is usually along the lines of, "So what!" or "I don't care!" I don't have any problems with people who like the same sex, but it's when they start using it to get special treatment or pity is when it bothers me. I have never walked into a conversation and announced, "I'm a heterosexual! Have you?

However, I do agree they should be able to marry if that is what they really want. Just don't use homosexuality as an excuse to get attention or pity.

-3 ( +7 / -10 )

Tony Abbott is more of a moron than I ever thought

10 ( +10 / -0 )

If you are worried about religious freedom

You still have the right to disagree with whatever your book tells you to disagree with.

Australia is not a theocracy. Keep that in mind.

The civilised world is moving on.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Same-sex couples can have civil unions or register their relationships in most states across Australia, but the government does not consider them married under national law.

I'd prefer if civil unions or civil partnerships were the only legally recognized form of partnership for everyone - straight or gay. Let marriage be a personal thing, defined as whatever you want it to mean.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Tony Abbott's youngest sister is gay, and he is still against same-sex marriage. He is a disgrace.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

This is going to divide the country big time as you'll find yes/no voters on both sides of the traditional left-right party divide. Many new Australians from Macedonia, Italy, Greece, Egypt, Lebanon etc have been voting Labor for decades now and for the first time they will be on Abbott/Turnbull's side. Even within communities this could open up old wounds (between old/young generations, within religious communities etc). Same with anglo aussies actually although I would like to think many support/don't mind same sex marriage?

Pretty sure Turnbull knew what he is doing and is trying to reach voters who until now had more in common with Penny Wong yet may mind the fact she is gay & pro gay marriage. Poor form really. All of this could have been avoided if pollies had done their job i.e voted yes/no.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Kinda surprised with this in Australia, I was unaware they had that large of a bible thumping population. In the US, for sure, Australia...wow.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Consulting the people is the right way to settle these social issues. Well done Australia! Wish we did the same in the US.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Except, they make a point of telling everyone they are gay, of course. Every gay person I have ever met has boldly announced "I am gay!" within the first few seconds of a conversation.

Naw, that's Red Sox fans. Every Red Sox fan I've ever met. Boldly and to my face. Every single one. It's true because you know; anecdotes.

Oz shoulda gone with a referendum like the one in Ireland, 2 years ago. Overwhelmingly voted yes and now there's an openly gay Taoiseach and nobody bats an eyelid. No big deal.

Isn't it a great time to be alive? Truly alive; despite the threat of conflict, the spectre of archaic predjudices and all that notwithstanding...

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Really gutless, weak representation by the politicians. They don't have the ticker to do what they know Australia wants them to do - which is just have a simple vote by the MP's in the Lower House. It's the RIGHT thing to do, and yet the bloody Liberal Party can't bring themselves to do it.

Tony Abbott IS a right wing disgrace who still has too much influence in the Liberal Party.

It's unnecessary, expensive and weak.

Let people be equal. Who is anyone to tell anyone else they can't love and marry?

Stone Age stuff.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Question. What is Marriage, Why is it necessary and why are people fighting over it ?

Answer those questions and the Solution may become clearer without causing offense to all.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Question. What is Marriage, Why is it necessary and why are people fighting over it ?

Answer those questions and the Solution may become clearer without causing offense to all.

Marriage is what people do when they want to make vows to each other about love and that. It can be done in a temple/church/registry office/etc.

Marriage is not necessary but some people like the occasion/the ceremony/the coming together of families and friends.

People "fight" over it because they love each other and want to showcase their feelings by getting married but archaic laws/archaic definitions/archaic religious types seem to think it's the end of civilisation if John marries Joe or Jane marries Joanna.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

What would Jesus do? Something about loving your neighbor, right?

Your religion has NOTHING to do with my life choices, as long as I'm not hurting anyone else (who doesn't agree to it).

Let people live how they want, especially when there is ZERO impact to others.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

What would Jesus do? Something about loving your neighbor, right?

If Jesus came back today; he'd be attacked for being an equal rights/pc-loving/SJW/liberal hippy.

These folks are strictly Old Testament, yo.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

And as for kicking the bankers out of the temple... well; he'd be portrayed as an unwashed socialist/anarchist/protester...

Gotta love the guy, though. Divine or not. Principles.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

traditional marriage in western nations is a mix of judeo christian and perhaps roman/greco cultural influences, with christianity and judaism probably playing the most important role.

i think that gay people should be able to have the same legal status as people married under their traditional belief system (the default in western countries) but by allowing gay people to be "married" it offends those who are strict adherents to their religious beliefs.

the solution is to create a "common law" type of marriage class which is separate but offers the same benefits as marriage does to a male/female couple.

let the downvotes roll in..

the one thing the left wing continually fails to recognize these days, is that they are pushing their agenda so hard that they're actually infringing on the beliefs and rights of people who otherwise would not give a damn. one thing i have noticed over the years is that the majority of christians in western nations these days is remarkably tolerant, as long as you don't push them into a corner on a certain issue. why does the left insist on doing this?

create a separate system of marriage and be done with it. christians, muslims, etc. have a right to believe what they believe in just as much as you think you have a right to be a married gay couple. both parties deserve equal rights but you don't achieve this by boxing people in.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Marriage is something the God bestows upon couple in love in Christianity, a sacred bond. Christianity does not approve of Rainbow people - Marriage can not be made real for Rainbow people as known in a form of traditional rite, highly religious. If they come up for some other kind of word for their bond, I am fine with it. But they are not setting foot in churches to get "married" here. Oh boy, no. Respect sacred rites.

-8 ( +1 / -9 )

"If you don't like same-sex marriage, vote no,"

No, Abbott. If you don't like same-sex marriage, then don't get married to someone of the same sex. I cannot, for the life of me, understand how this affects his or anyone else's marriage. It's as if once SMS becomes legal, his own marriage is going to be on the rocks. Or perhaps he feels threatened by seeing so many other people in happy relationships. It's all a sign of one's lack of faith in one's own marriage. If he wants to blame someone for the destruction of marriage, then perhaps he should berate all the single mothers out there, all the divorcees, all those who have married more than once, with or without being involved in extramarital affairs, all those straight couples who have married and who have no intention of having kids. It must really get to Abbott that his own sister is gay and waiting to get married in Australia.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Why are they (Gay activists) against plebiscite if they think Gay Marriage was popular and majority Australian peoples have supportive?

Australian citizens must have voice for gay marriage. The Labor Party, Green Party and Senator Nick Xenophon were ignored the right of Australian peoples voice in same sex marriage by voting against Plebiscite for same sex marriage in Senate.

Where is a democracy and human right of majority of Australian peoples who want to vote in same sex marriage plebiscite?

Australian Politicians have been wasting and spending billions of dollars every year. The Government has unnecessarily wasted over 25 billion on Submarine project instead of buying Japanese build Soryu class Submarines.

Why Australian peoples can't have same sex marriage plebiscite that cost about $ 160 million?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Considering how much straight people have screwed up the institution of marriage, I'm surprised that so many of us gays want in on it.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

@Daniel Naumoff

So Muslim/Sikh/Hindu/Jewish marriages aren't "real"?

Suggest you put a little more Christianity into your thoughts....

4 ( +4 / -0 )

@gokai

It's the dressing-up and and all that attention, isn't it? ; )

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Last time I heard, Muslim were punishing Rainbow people with capital punishment. So yes, if any of the skittles' want to become a registered family, in no religion it will be "a marriage". Because no world religion approves of them. Except, maybe, Buddhism. Because it is very nice.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

I think the fear of same-sex marriage is that after it is established as a cultural norm, some of these couples will gracefully move on to adoption as being a right without prejudice or refusal.  Traditional couples  ( man/woman) may already try to argue that marriage is to secure the future safety, etc. of children, further stating that marriage is not needed unless a couple will have children.  Absurd of course.  Anyway, I only mean to project myself into the mindset of those against equal marriage rights.  I imagine they think that just being married for awhile doesn't give you the right to be a parent UNLESS it is a male\female union that can naturally produce offspring.  These types probably would agree that the following hypothetical is appalling: 

two married women who want children go out bar-hopping until they conceive.  The state can do nothing to 'protect ' children of these women who could argue that they are bi-sexual. Extra-marital sex is not a crime, right?

This aspect of a potentially drastic and differing lifestyle is a threat to the traditionalist mindset.  Of course here the idea that marriage is not necessarily a monogamous relationship will cause fury for some.  Fooling drunken men into sex for the secret motive of childrearing might be forgiven ( artificial insemination clinics are an option of course), but marriage is a priori a union that excludes sex with others, by definition.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

How does what someone else does in their marriage diminish your practice of marriage in your relationship?

Should anyone be prevented from having "a marriage" due to someone else's religion? I just don't understand.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

If they come up for some other kind of word for their bond, I am fine with it. But they are not setting foot in churches to get "married" here. Oh boy, no. Respect sacred rites.

Yeah, no. If you want people to live a certain way to make you feel better, you'll be waiting till long after death. By the way, isn't it muddying the waters if you're chasing heathen yellow tail over here?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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