It's been a while...

So, on the political scene we've seen for the first time a serious debate on the issue of gay marriage. I predicted years ago, that this would not become a reality in Australia until other more advanced countries have first taken steps to initiate marriage equality. I was right. We now have an ever growing list of western countries who are beginning to realise the true meaning of being a secular society, and that legal marriage is indeed a civil institution, not a religous one.

And thus, as logic begins to take precedence around the world on this issue, Australia is beginning to play 'catch up' (once again), and the momentum toward marriage equality is finally gaining traction, giving hope to millions of GLBT Australians that full equality is within grasp.

The cries of the religous, the social conservatives and the views of (some) of the older Australians are beginning to dwindle. The arguements they put forward are fundamentally flawed, when one delves below the poorly founded arguements they have, we can clearly see they are filled with hate and prejudice, not reason.

My stance on the issue? Of course, there is no valid reason why marriage equality should even be an issue. The Government has no place to dictate which gender I may marry, just as it has no place to dictate whether I marry at all. This issue is not one of ideology, but justice and fairness, and thus It should not be treated so lightly as to be left to a group of overpaid politicians with vested interests to argue and legislate, with their often religous financially and morally influenced policies and beliefs.

However, I also believe that there are a growing number of homosexuals out there who simply wish to conform to the heterosexual strereotypes, as Brian Kinney from Queer as Folk would call "Stepford Fags". As the choice as to whether to have that document as a symbolic reference to ones relationship should be available to all, I simply do not wish to be with someone because a piece of paper legally binds us together, rather I will be with someone because we both want to be together. Our will and desire to be together would keep us together, not a legally binding piece of paper. Should that will and desire fade over time, so be it.

Also, as marriage is obviously a very serious (non-religous) institution, many gay couples upon the granting of equal marriage rights, will 'tie the knot' out of pure novelty, of course this is not limited to gay couples. The issues that plague heterosexual relationships do not discriminate on the basis of sexuality.