Philo, what do you mean by 'natural'? Genetically determined?

Your assertion appears to be arbitrary. I can assert just as well that all activities undertaken "by" (with?) any part of the human body are natural. And is not masturbation undertaken by the human hand?

The main point remains. What is natural has nothing to do with what is morally right or wrong.

Philo,

Firstly, homosexual behaviour is common in nature. Ever heard of bonobos? Or sheep? Humans are definitely not the only sexually reproducing species who engage in homosexual behaviour.

Secondly, if ALL activities undertaken by the hand and foot are natural movements, it follows that any activity undertaken by any part of the body are natural movements. After all, if they were unnatural movements then we wouldn't be able to perform them, not having evolved/been designed to do so. By your own reasoning, the activities undertaken during homosexual lovemaking are natural movements.

This issue and the discussion on this thread are so terribly revealing of the contemporary human condition, demonstrating just how far we have moved beyond the key survival imperatives - possibly in pursuit of some otherwise unfulfilled psychological need. Can the absence of extreme hazard as a fundamental of our daily lives have given rise to an overblown concern for the underdog, for the lame ducks in our midst? I wonder.

We don't want to execute murderers, and feel the need to conduct extraordinarily complex "rituals" to determine guilt or innocence in even the most blatant of cases, and seem eager to afford dispensation on the basis of all manner of "extenuation". Is this truly altruistic, or extreme compassion, or are we really just protecting our own butts? Are we truly brave and responsible, or really just becoming a bunch of whimps?

While it is "natural" and commendable to have concern for the environment, whales, rhinos, elephants, tigers, forests, etc, it is surely not natural to have compassion for drug dealers, thieves, paedophiles, terrorists, or murderers, etc. Yet many do.

Our cerebral extravagance is understandable of course, given our curiosity and ingenuity, as demonstated in the almost unbounded pursuit of knowledge, technology, machines, gadgets, etc. But how far is it safe for cerebral acrobatics to be allowed to shape the structure of our society or of our priorities? There has to be a balance between the fundamental essentials and our pursuit of "idealism".

Key priorities have to be maintained, and in the scheme of things, gay marriage is of such minor significance as to be an inexcusable distraction from far more important demands on our intellect and on our resources.

If you need an issue worthy of compassion and altruism, consider the plight of refugees, of the many destitute and victimised, and of our defence forces and allies put in harms way in arenas where their services are unappreciated and even despised. Let's at least try to get our priorities right.

Those practicing homosexual perversions want people to stay out of their bedrooms yet they want the State to Publicly declare and register their actions as normal, so the heterosexual community legally cannot speak against their behaviour.

It is a Green PC Socialist agenda to normalize and change biological reality as acceptable so they can take legal action against any person who objects to their perversion. I have spoken to several on another site and the height of their anger is uncivilized.

Obviously some here see no boundaries on their social behaviour, and their image no higher than sheep who lie in their dung or monkeys who throw it.

Dear Philo,

I never heard of a sheep or a monkey who built a nuclear bomb.

Philo,

Nobody's freedom of speech is under threat from the proposed changes. You will still be able to rail against homosexuality as much as you like, and it will be just as legal as it is at the moment. The extent to which one's speech is free is determined by laws like defamation and sedition laws - not the Marriage Act 1961, which is the only one folk want changed, and changed in a minor way that does not relate to freedom of speech. Stop attacking straw men.

How on earth can a bunch of hippies change biological reality? Do they have magic wands? Can they do miracles?

For the dozenth time: what homosexuals do in their bedrooms is not social behaviour. It is private behaviour, and as such it is not the concern of anybody not engaged in the behaviour. Do you always have this much trouble minding your own business?