I just don’t understand why so many people are frightened by gay people and gay marriage. It has always been a mystery to me that gay partnerships cannot be recognized in the same manner as other partnerships.
Well - I do understand (but of course do not accept) the religious objection - but there are other people who are against because it’s - well different. It might do something to us. We are not sure what but it scares us.
Marriage is a convention with its origins in religion. The churches may never allow gay marriage - but a man and a woman carried be married in a civil ceremony without intervention by the church.
This is indeed possible in some countries. Why are people afraid of this?How could it possibly threaten ‘traditional’ marriages between a man and a woman?
People have expressed surprise that Julia Gillard does not support the legalization of gay marriage. She is quoted as saying on a radio show in Australia.
"We believe the marriage act is appropriate in its current form, that is recognizing that marriage is between a man and a woman, but we have as a government taken steps to equalize treatment for gay couples," Ms Gillard said.
I don’t think it is strange at all. She is trying to get elected and knows she already has an uphill struggle with the Christian vote because she is an Atheist. Gay marriage is probably a step too far at this election.
What I also do not find strange is that openly gay Labor Minister for Climate Change Penny Wong says she agrees with her party’s opposition to same sex marriage.
"On the issue of marriage I think the reality is there is a cultural, religious, historical view around that which we have to respect," she told Network Ten on Sunday. The party's position is very clear that this is an institution that is between a man and a woman."
Senator Wong said she respected Labor's view of marriage as an institution between a man and a woman.
"I am part of a party and I support the party's policies."
People are getting their knickers in a knot about this but do they really expect that just before an election - when Christian groups will be actively and virulently lobbying against the Labor Party - this would be the time to make a stand on principle about gay marriage.
Gay people are up in arms and are writing to the Sydney Morning Herald saying they will not vote for the Labor Party in the election because of the party’s stand on gay marriage.
Can they be serious? Don’t they understand politics? Like gay marriage will be possible under a Liberal government led by Tony Abbott?
Mr Abbott is a Catholic fundamentalist. Gayness is against the laws of god. Gay marriage could never ever be possible under his leadership.
Indeed - he may move to make gayness illegal again and burn gay people at the stake.
Or pray for all the gay people - that may work. Some Christians say gayness can be cured with prayer. If only it were the same for stupidity.
