Tony Windsor's suggestion for a referendum is the obvious answer in a democracy for any issue that sharply divides the community. It is unfortunate that Australia is not a democracy - we share with nearly all the Western world rule OF the people BY the political parties and mandarins FOR those who buy them en bloc.

The gay marriage issue is not a matter of supporting or opposing gay marriage. It is supporting or opposing legal recognition of gay marriage on the same basis as that of heterosexual marriage. Surveys suggest the majority of the people support this recognition without in any way supporting gay marriage as an option nor themselves.

Those who suggest that gay marriage is akin to paedophilia or bestiality have no moral compass. Otherwise they would recognise sex, like religion, if practised on anyone not a consenting adult as a violation of basic human rights.

Here is what's going to happen. Tony Abbott is going to become PM and he is going to pretend that gay marriage does not exist or is not an issue, and as a result the issue is going to build and build and build so much so that it will work in the favour of gay marriage supporters.

Tony Abbott is against a referendum because he knows the majority of Australians support gay marriage, if the majority did not support gay marriage then you can bet that he would be supporting a referendum. So while Abbott is leader of the Liberals you can forget about a referendum.

Poll shows support of gay marriage at high:

SUPPORT for same-sex marriage has risen to its highest level, with a new poll revealing nearly two-thirds of the community want change as pressure continues to build on Julia Gillard in the wake of Tasmania's move to introduce its own laws.

The Galaxy research -- commissioned by Australian Marriage Equality -- also shows 52 per cent of Coalition voters want same-sex marriage reform and 44 per cent of voters would more likely support Tony Abbott if he allowed Coalition MPs a conscience vote on the issue.

READ HERE: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/state-politics/poll-shows-support-of-gay-marriage-at-high/story-e6frgczx-1226444286843

"Sexual orientation is not something we choose, but rather, something that is decided for us in the womb and by nature! "

By that hypothesis, women such as Penny Wong and Tony Abbott's sister, who were previously in heterosexual relationships, should not have switched to lesbian relationships. Similarly, for men previously in heterosexual relationships who then chose to switch to a homosexual relationship.

Again by that hypothesis, it would not be possible to change sexual orientation by counselling. The fact that many starting with same-sex orientation have become 'straight' through counselling, does not support the validity of the hypothesis. Predictably, homosexual lobby spin goes out of its way to discredit the success of such counselling.

Raycom, your at it again, making personal comment on an issue you have no knowledge of!