Your Say on Gay Marriage

[katydidthat]

I heard Tony Windsor this morning talking about the idea of a referendum on gay marriage.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/windsor-wants-referendum-on-gay-marriage/story-fncynkc6-12...

Would you vote for or against gay marriage if it was an option in September's election?  

[katydidthat]

Jean and Martini, thanks for your responses.  

And you, Gillie 😉

[cherry*135]

Voted: For

Agree with krazykiwi's post back there, especially the parts about religion.

[katydidthat]

We're at 59% FOR.  

If CS reflects the votes of the average Australian, then we potentially have a pass in a potential referendum.  

That's sounding good to me 🙂

I don't know if anyone here read the submissions to the HREOC on gay rights a few years back ... there were lots and they were wonderful and tear-jerking.  The HREOC recommended a whole heap of changes to legislation ... funny enough, I think the first change that was effected was to make people in same sex relationships the same as "married" in terms of Centrelink benefits.  That means that they got a lower income from Social Security.  

[i-need-a-martini]

This is from Wikipedia. Most of the stats below are polls conducted by Galaxy (and they are seriously dodgy) so the Roy Morgan one is probably the most accurate and true.

Without a doubt, the public opinion stats are rapidly changing. It may not happen this year but within the next 5 perhaps?

Public opinion polls

In June 2004, a survey conducted by Newspoll showed that 38% of respondents supported same-sex marriage, with 44% opposed and 18% undeci...

In June 2007, a Galaxy Poll conducted for advocacy group GetUp! measured the opinions of 1,100 Australians aged 16 and over.[109]

57% of respondents supported same-sex marriage with 37% opposed and 6% undecided.[109]71% of respondents supported same-sex couples having the same legal entitlements as opposite-se...[110]

In June 2009, a Galaxy Poll commissioned by Australian Marriage Equality measured the opinions of 1,100 Australians aged 16 and over.[111]

60% of respondents supported the recognition of same-sex marriage, with 36% opposed and 4% undecided...Australian Greens (82%) and who were aged 16–24 (74%). The majority of respondents from each state a...[111]58% of respondents supported the recognition of foreign same-sex marriages in Australia, with 3...Australian Greens (74%) and who were aged 16–24 (73%). The majority of respondents from each state a...[111]

In October 2010, a Galaxy Poll commissioned by Australian Marriage Equality measured the opinions of 1,050 Australians aged 18 and over.[112]

62% of respondents supported the recognition of same-sex marriage, with 33% opposed and 5% undecided...Australian Greens (81%), and who were aged 18–24 (80%). The majority of respondents from each state ...[112]78% of respondents supported a conscience vote on the recognition of same-sex marriage, with 16% opposed and 6% undecided. Support ...[112]

In March 2011, an Essential Media Poll suggested that support for same-sex marriage had fallen below 50% and oppositio...[112]

In July 2011 a survey of 543 people conducted by Roy Morgan measured the support for a number of positions on marriage.[112] 68% of Australians support same-sex marriage78% classify marriage as a ‘necessary’ institution, with...

IIn a February 2012 online poll of 1506 Australian adult members on the Nine Rewards website by Angus Reid Public Opinion, 49 percent of Australians said same-sex couples should be allowed to lega...[114] No attempt was made to make the survey representative of the entire population, and the Nine R...Nine Network, an Australian television channel popular with older and more conservative viewers.

In early 2012 the House of Representatives conducted an online survey to provide a simple means for the public to voic...[115] The survey closed on April 20, having received approximately 276,000 responses, including abou...[116] Of these responses, it was reported that 64.3% supported same-sex marriage, or approximately 1...[117]

[cherry*135]

There has been very few successful referendums( changes to the Constitution) in Australia.

There have been 44 referendums held since 1901 and only eight of these have been successful. 

Plebiscite

In Australia, a plebiscite (also known as an advisory referendum) is used to decide a national question that does not affect the Constitution. It can be used to test whether the government has sufficient support from the people to go ahead with a proposed action.

Unlike a referendum, the decision reached in a plebiscite does not have any legal force.

Australia has held two national plebiscites, in 1916 and 1917, relating to the introduction of conscription during the First World War; both were defeated. No specific rules exist about the running of a plebiscite. In the event that another plebiscite was conducted, it may be that the Parliament will decide on the rules of operation.

http://www.peo.gov.au/students/fact_sheets/referendums_plebiscites.html

IMO a plebiscite on Gay Marriage wont happen.

[everything*that*i*ever*wanted]

I didn't vote because it is not a black and white choice for me.

From a Faith / Biblical perspective, same sex marriage goes against what the Bible teaches.

From a humanity point of view, I believe that people should have the same rights and responsibilities.

If being in love with someone of the same sex is not against the law, how can we legislate against legalising their commitment ?

When I married in the Catholic Church in 1996, I had to affirm that our marriage was based on the teachings of the Church. I also had to affirm that our children would be Christened and brought up in the teachings of the Church. I would assume then that same sex marriage would never be accepted in the Catholic Church. I don't know about all other Christian Churches but I would guess it would be the same ?

So then, wouldn't only civil marriages be the only path that would allow same sex marriages to be recognised ?

As a Christian, I believe marriage is one of God's Covenants. However, for those that don't have Faith, I don't see why a civil marriage should be legislated against.

[vampire-teddy]

there are very few churches that would allow same sex marriage and that is fine by me, i am only looking for marriage in a park or on a beach etc but still legal and still marriage.  my mother is catholic and i was brought up catholic.  my sister is now a very committed baptist. they both have no problem with same sex marriage.  i in turn respect their religious beliefs and their right to have them even if they are not my own.

[everything*that*i*ever*wanted]

there are very few churches that would allow same sex marriage and that is fine by me, i am only looking for marriage in a park or on a beach etc but still legal and still marriage.  my mother is catholic and i was brought up catholic.  my sister is now a very committed baptist. they both have no problem with same sex marriage.  i in turn respect their religious beliefs and their right to have them even if they are not my own.

Your family sounds similar to how I live. I wish you all the happiness and contentment this world has to offer. I hope that one day your relationship is given the legal recognition you wish for. I do not believe for a minute that we choose who we fall in love with or the form in which that person comes. Be happy !

[i-need-a-martini]

I don't know why the church keeps getting brought into this. It's not a religious issue. It's a legal one.

And to bring the church into it is simply making excuses.

A good example: contraception is also against what the bible teaches but I am sure 90% of the population uses it without linking it to the church too much. So why is it that the mention of gay marriage is immediately linked to what the church says we can/can't do?

[katydidthat]

Everything, most of the legislation proposed and passed (across the world), says that a civil (ie not religious) marriage will be legal (just as is for straights now), and that it would be up to the individual churches to decide if they will perform religious ceremonies for gays.  

Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, meanwhile, said the government's proposals only concerned civil marriages in registry offices and would have "no impact on faith organisations or places of worship".

Read more here:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18405318

So you can support gay marriage outside of the Catholic Church 🙂

PS I've often spoken to Peter Tatchell - he's a nice guy.