Yesterday Kevin Rudd announced that he had done a complete backflip on his stand on same sex marriage, pushing the issue to the forefront of the media’s attention once again. For many people this is something to be celebrated. For me I have the thought of ‘so what?’. Now before you cry equal rights and discrimination, let me elaborate.
I cannot fathom why this is still an issue. It is 2013, why are we still up in arms about the sanctity of marriage being ruined? I do not understand how two people, regardless of their sexual orientation is laughing in the face of marriage? A union between two people is a display of love and togetherness. Why does whether those people are two men, two women or a man and a woman change that? How does two consenting adults who decide to celebrate their love through a ceremony have any impact on anyone else?
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I don’t understand why a government is still adhering to the rules of an interpretation of the bible. There are many of the ways of the Old Testament that we no longer live by, even in a church setting so I do not understand the need to hold onto this one doctrine. It feels that equality for same sex couples has come such a long way and stayed stagnate all at the same time.
Same sex couples are recognised by Centrelink as legitimate couples, meaning that they are no longer seen as ‘roomates’ and must declare incomes in order to receive the payments they are entitled to. Centrelink recognises them for fucks sake, an organisation that has lost more documents than they have every miraculously found. Yet our government is stil dragging it’s feet on the issue, unable to commit to even a referendum to let the people have their say.
I don’t care who you love. If you are both consenting adults and want to show the world your love then I say go for your life. Your decision doesn’t impact me, I don’t find you repulsive or any other words thrown around by conservative groups. I am comfortable enough in my sexuality and life that I don’t have the misconception that having a homosexual couple marry means that the sanctity of marriage will be ruined.
You know what ruins the sanctity of marriage? Celebrities getting married for 5 minutes, people rushing their decisions or getting married because its ‘the right thing to do’. A same sex marriage has the same chances of working as a hetero marriage. A person’s sexual orientation does not change who they are deep inside. Love is love.
You’ve got it in one here Teeg. It’s so frustrating that this is even still up for discussion – there’s just nothing to discuss! I think the pollies use it – either for or against – to further their own public image and deflect from the real issues we should be talking about.
I agree that I can’t believe this is still an issue.
My best friend is gay. She is travelling to NZ in August to marry her love. I find it so offensive that she can’t marry her own country. Our country. By saying you are not allowed to do it, you are saying it’s wrong. I hate that is the message the government is sending her children. That the relationship their mother has with the love of her life is wrong. It’s not.
It also makes me so angry how they can be so hypocritical. They say it’s wrong and they wont recognise the relationship so they can marry, but they certainly recognise it for tax purposes. If her relationship isn’t valid enough to marry, then why shouldn’t she get the single mothers pension? Why is her FTB lowered because of the combined income with her “defacto”? The government are happy to recognise them as the committed couple they are when it suits them.
It’s not about religion, marriage isn’t religious to me. I got married for many reasons, god or religion not being one.
I could go on forever because I feel so strongly about it. I am disgusted that my intelligent, wonderful, adult friend can not marry her intelligent, wonderful adult partner that she is in a committed relationship with.
I hope that in years to come our children will look back..after same sex marriage has been legalised and wonder what the hell took so long. I don’t think a lot of people get married for religious reasons anymore and I fail to understand why a government is adhering to the doctrine in a book. Why Christianity? Why not Buddhism or any other kind of religious practice? I have friends who are gay and while none of them are in long term relationships at the moment I hate that they don’t even have the choice to get married if they want to.
I’m with you on this. I don’t get it either – love is love. And it certainly seems like the overwhelming majority of citizens in this country agree, so I’m not exactly sure who the government is trying to please by its continued stance on the issue. Perhaps overwhelming majority is not accurate – but who could possibly know? It’s not like it’s even a topic really open for debate.
Samesexmarriage will add to our immigration problem . This is the ugly of Nature not the equality of People . will destroy the growth to our kids . Might as well cancel all marriage and no more tax loopholes. Change the way we occupy our Jails . How can anyone approve two guys adopting a girl even at the age of 1 . how sick does that sound ? trafficking would be legal just about .. This is so stupid even to think about gay marriage . Are we really becoming barbarians of entitlements to such a law ? Where does it end ? pets ? where does it go ? how far ?
I have to strongly disagree Scott. I have no issue with a gay couple adopting children. I don’t think it’s gross. A gay couple are just as much capable of providing a loving environment. There are plenty of heterosexual couples out there abusing and neglecting their children and yet it’s their ‘right’ to have children. There is no link between marrying another person and an animal and I think it’s disgraceful to make that leap.
I think it is selfish to take how the creation of life begins , maybe I am old school . And I know very luv-ing gay people . But I do not want to add any more info to that .
I completely aggree with you teegs.. scott your small minded! go back to the 50’s.. There have been similar battle for equality and rights over the past decades.. times are changing.. there are so many ‘straight’ couples stuffing childrens lives up everyday i know many same sex couples with children.. their children arent lacking anything that a child in a ‘straight’ home would.. im not saying theres not broken same sex homes there are because? were are all equal and gay people arent perfect.. heck.. but if marriage is something a hetrosexual couple are entitled to then anyone should be… if your child came to you and said they were gay scott what would you do? because its not feelings you can turn off.. no amount of religion and prescription medication will stop those teenagers from being who they are.. one day like ‘blacks and the whites’ equality fight all those years ago this will be the past..
I really hope our government wake up from the fog they are in with this issue – soon. Love is love. There is not better way to say it xx
It’s quite embarrassing really. I don’t know what else to say. Marriage as a secular institution, should not take the church’s opinion into it. Churches, Temples, Mosques should be entitled to refuse same sex marriage, just as they are entitled to refuse a non practicing member of their faith or divorced people remarrying. However, as for getting that certificate from townhall or a ceremony presided over by a celebrant? How are we still arguing this in this century?!
I was pretty proud to be a Kiwi the day they legalised same sex marriage, now I’m just waiting for Australia to catch up! It’s not the dark ages, we’re not still segregating people based on colour or religion so why should we segregate them based on sexual preferences?
I agree – I don’t understand why in this day and age this is still an issue – why same sex marriages are not allowed. It just doesn’t make sense.
Have the best day !
Me
WORD. Love that Kardashian meme. Pretty much sums it up. xo
Will be interesting to see what happens first: Centrelink keeping better track of paperwork or same sex marriage in Australia. I’ll back the latter.
Yes, yes, yes and yes, I could not agree more Tegan. Why we are still debating this? At least the ACT are on board – maybe the rest of Australia might follow suit sometime in my lifetime, at this rate….
It is archaic that the government has the right to interfere with who we love and want to spend our lives with! There is absolutely no logical reasoning for it. It’s just pathetic.
Still can’t get over that 72 day Kardashian Kaper!! My cousin is gay and my wish for her is that she finds love and happiness. I also wish she has the same opportunities as I do. Sadly, in our country, this isn’t the case.