…This intriguing article throws much missing honesty into the debate on homosexual marriage. It debunks any notion that the concept of homosexual marriage is universally agreed amongst the group.

… Rob Cover is correct to imply that the debate for and against homosexual marriage, has a long road ahead before any definitive conclusions can be drawn on the overall benefits of homosexual marriage to society, and the homosexual community itself.

Thank you for your response - interesting perspective.

I certainly agree with your opinion that marriage equality will not be a "magic bullet" to reduce rates of LGBTI youth suicide on its own - it is a far more complex issue.

I believe that to reduce rates of suicide in LGBTI youth, the problem needs to be tackled at various levels..
1)Individual level - recognising the problem,direct support and treatment for the youth individually, this is done by family, friends, GP, psychologist, psychiatrist, school counsellor, social worker, etc

2)Local level - local resources such as GP - having training in Youth Friendly Doctor and LGBTI issues, Headspace, Psychologists, Child/Adolescent Mental Health Services, School counsellors, specific programs such as Gay/Straight Alliance and awareness and tolerance and acceptance programs in schools/communities

3)Broader community level - state/federal funding for programs, staff etc. Wider community campaigns for acceptance of LGBTI people and awareness of issues, awareness of suicide and prevention. And of course, removal of legalised discrimination such as in the Marriage Act goes into this category.

Overall, I believe that legalising same sex marriage will do far more good than any possible harm and that the Federal government should do this as soon as possible. Unfortunately, it won't be a magic bullet - but it will help - and we need to work on all the other factors as well to reduce the rates of suicide in LGTBI youth.

No! Marriage equality, though long overdue, is hardly a response to L/G youth suicide.
That needs a different approach starting with removing Chaplains from schools, with their hateful misguided medieval message, that gender bias is an inherent evil, we might or do consciously choose?
A set in stone "mindset," that flies in the face of all the available evidence!
People, particularly the religious right, need to stop trying to realign sexuality via religious/cult like indoctrination; or quite blatant religious brainwashing; and or, unwavering denial.
[Cults are usually defined by their often extreme and entirely inflexible views; and, are usually led by a leader who cannot err?]
We need to stop recalcitrant families from denying/refuting the plain as the nose on your face, truth; and or, blaming the often estranged victim.
Who is then isolated and literally punished for the balance of their days, for daring to be born different.
And no, it's not genetic or inheritable.
It's not the G/L youth who are queer, but the par for the course mindless response, and equally mindless discrimination!
Rhrosty.

Suicide has always appeared to me to be a rather elegant way nature has developed to correct some of it's more obvious mistakes.

DAV:

...You attempt to coalesce argument from this article, into one of pro-homosexual marriage fail.

Rhosty:

...We, (the normal community), don’t want our children to be “softened up” as part of a school curriculum promoting the wayward lifestyle of homosexuals. God and his moral path and social traditions are a perfect example for our children thank you!

I agree with Dr Villis – the connection between suicide and marriage is probably quite tenuous, though not non-existent. There are lots of other, better, reasons to support marriage equality.

Hasbeen
That’s a particularly nasty response