ABC HOST: OPPONENTS OF GAY MARRIAGE ARE BANNED FROM BACKING GAY ATHLETES
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Of all the bat-crazy arguments for same-sex marriage, trust the ABC to come up with the wildest. Joe O'Brien says defenders of traditional marriage have no right to barrack for gay athletes such as Ian Thorpe. Apparently O'Brien believes the only arguments against same-sex marriage are those advanced by homophobes who must - must - hate all gays.
"Should the homosexual lobby ever succeed in changing the definition of marriage, it is quite likely that expressing such an obvious fact will become illegal." Piers Ackerman The Telegraph
In 2009, the Australian Government passed several laws designed to equalise treatment for same-sex couple families….the Same-Sex Relationships (Equal Treatment in Commonwealth Laws-General Law Reform) Act 2008 and the Same-Sex Relationships (Equal Treatment in Commonwealth Laws-Superannuation) Act 2008.
The reforms amended 85 existing Commonwealth laws eliminating discrimination against same-sex couples and their children.These laws equalise treatment for same-sex couples and any children in the following areas - Aged care and child support, Citizenship, Health Insurance, Immigration, Superannuation, Social Security, Taxation and Veterans' Affairs. Marriage equality laws can quite easily be included in these same-sex laws as they already recognise same sex unions.
These laws were passed with bipartisan support in the parliament. Even Bob Brown ( Greens) declared that we now have marriage equality. Same Sex marriage was deemed to be equivalent to marriage. At that point, marriage equality was legally and morally achieved. Changing the Marriage Act now will not enhance same sex marriage couples legal rights at all.
The main issue with changing the Marriage Act now is loss of freedoms for people who don't agree. This applies to any religious, atheist or agnostic person who values the current definition of marriage. It also applies to business owners who refuse to supply goods and services for conscientious objections. Until we are told the exact protections making public statements against Same Sex Marriage law we are tantamount to signing a blank cheque. I value my freedoms, so for that reason I am voting NO!