John-Ernest,

What's that commotion about?
Why are you trying to break into an open door?

Nothing stops a gay couple from marrying.
Nothing stops a gay couple from having recognition and respect - by friends, relatives and the wide public, not even the Australian law.

"Ah", you may say, "but the government does not recognize gay marriage"

Well true, but if one needs to rely on the government for recognition, whether they be straight or gay or a eunuch, then they are in big trouble because they have no self respect and no amount of outside respect will heal it.

Why ask for the devil's blessings?

I agree with Bill Shorten

However our Laws should be changed to accommodate Couples where the law discriminates eg; Insurance , Super , Property etc.

Garum Masala,
All those issues you mentioned can be encapulated in civil contracts it does not need marriage. The gays are fighting for the right to adopt children and lesbians the right to use IVF. It is not really about marriage is it; be honest!

Philo,

Gays already have the right to adopt children, and lesbians already have the right to use IVF. The only area of discrimination left is that gays and lesbians can't get married - and that's all this is about.

Posted by Philo, Friday, 28 October 2011 12:35:48 PM

sorry but you are wrong , you can't make a Civil Contract with the Govt.

Bill Shorten, I disagree. I think your snipe is ill-tempered and poorly conceived.

I am also a Catholic and a grandmother. When I married in a civil ceremony, I committed myself to my husband for life, as he did to me. Our marriage has survived on respect, love and a monogamous relationship. Some people marry for other reasons and many lack the commitment to make things work - but they are able to be married by a state sanctioned marriage celebrant. Sometimes those celebrants are also religious leaders.

The marriage laws are governed by the state - not religions. As marriage can only be attained with government approval it has nothing to do with morality. If it did then divorces would still demand proof of adultery etc, instead divorce is had under the Federal no-fault system.

A religious marriage is not recognised unless it also complies with state sanctioned law. So leave moralising out of the debate on gay marriage.

To say it is between a man and a woman for the purpose of having children, you preclude older couples past childbearing age, the infertile, and remarriage of blended families whose procreation days replete.

Bill, if as you say "marriage is a special concept involving commitment by a man and a woman into a committed relationship for the benefit of children" does that mean you are also against divorce? Does this also mean that you are against adultery that too often damages marriages by demonstrating that the straying party rejects the committed relationship?

governments should stay out of consenting adults bedrooms. I don't want to know what others do in their bedrooms and the fascination of keys and keyholes is downright kinky.

Gay people have a right to marry their chosen partner