Same Sex Marriage

Marriage is the legal recognition of a union between two people.  Currently in Australia this is currently limited to a woman and man.  There is no reason, however, not to extend this definition to cover gay couples.  Not extending this definition is discrimination.

The debate over same sex marriage is separate from the supposed right of a child to have a mother and father.  You don’t need to have children to be married and you don’t need to be married to have children.

Homosexuality exists and it is not a choice.  Do you think people would choose to be persecuted, ostracised, bullied and discriminated against?  The only choices involved with being gay are choosing to accept that and choosing to be happy.

Whether or not homosexuality is a sin is not relevant.  There is more than one religious text in the same way there is more than one religion.  The only place religion has in a relationship is if it is a desired part of that relationship.  Religion has no place determining status of relationships and who can and cannot marry.

What if homosexuality is a sin?  There are other sins in the Bible.  Divorce, tattooing and piercing, drunkenness, lying, hatred, jealousy, etc.  If you hate homosexuals then that is a sin.  As it is the Bible says to love one another, love your neighbour as yourself and to love your enemies.

Critics of same sex marriage say that we are pandering to the needs of a vocal minority.  Does this mean that if you don’t conform to the majority then you have no place in society?  There are other minorities whose needs are taken into account.  People who are left-handed, dyslexics, colour-blind or vegan.  If five percent of the population are vegan should we really have vegetarian options on restaurant menus?

The traditional nuclear one mother one father family is no longer the one size fits all model any more.  There are single parents, blended families, grandparents raising grandchildren, foster families.  Prohibiting same sex marriage on the pretext that same sex couples can’t procreate doesn't fit into the way modern society works.  Adoption and IVF should not be denied to these couples for discriminatory beliefs.

Businesses that deny custom to gay people for religious reasons are out of place with modern society.  If divorce is considered a sin would they turn away someone celebrating a divorce or conducting a second, third or fourth marriage?  Is tolerance against their religion as well?