David nearly 50% of opposite sex marriages end in divorce or separation.

From David's post: "let's downgrade the institution itself to an irrational free-for-all".

It is already that. Any argument otherwise is plainly ridiculous. The State should play no role in this, but while it does, our SECULAR governments should not discriminate between loving partnerships between two consenting adults.

And this: "neither option gives a child what she needs".

So, NO amount of actual research proving children raised by same-sex parents are just fine will ever convince you, because you just know better?

Homophobe. Plain and simple. You should not be given a platform to spew this nonsense.

Dear David,

Thanks for your courageous stand and post.
It's simply amazing how fast these discussions with homosexual activists and pro SSM advocates degrade into personal abuse sessions.
Homophobe. Hater. Bigot, Fundamentalist etc etc.

THEIR OWN RIGHTS or OPINIONS justify the means they use to promote THEIR ARGUMENT.

Boys without Dads and Girls without Mums.
Grandfathers being the surrogate dad for 1 hour every month.
Sperm donors attending Parent / Teachers nights twice a year.
Sperm donors having 0 to 4 hours of deep and meaningful contact with their birth child twice a year.
We are being told it's all so wonderful. The children are thriving. 
2000 years of heterosexual parenting under a marriage institution tossed out with the rubbish as an old and out of date story and valueless institution. 

Out with the old and in with the new and to hell with the consequences. A Brave New World.

I remain Highly Sceptical. My wife is a primary school teacher and knows a boy in the school who has two lesbians as a mum and dad. The dear little boy has serious issues and problems.

His name remains confidential but of course the gay lobby will tell me it's totally unrelated to his current parents. Such a thought is of course "homophobic." ISN'T IT COSMOGIRL !  

As for the continued claim by the gay lobby that same sex parenting is equivalent.  What complete nonsense these claims are.

Let's all at least be 100% honest here. This social experiment has only just started.
The data to promote same sex parenting is sparse at best and is being manipulated to support SSM by the main stream media. It's very very early days.

Any objective assessment and fair reporting of these studies by the main stream media including and ABC has evaporated regrettably. 
JP's comments about the Age article are noted and supported. Refer page 2 and 3 of today's SHM.

"Children of Same-sex couples - Thriving " OH REALLY.

regards
Philip

CONTINUED BY PHIL

SAME SEX COUPLES self rating themselves. Is this serious?
Real solid data here? I THINK NOT.
Statistically Questionable? DEFINITELY
Objective?. NOT A CHANCE.

I believe we ain't seen nothing yet of the potential damage coming around the bend.

So a conservative and wise approach is to leave marriage the way is it.
This is the best and wisest approach at this stage. Let's review the UK and French experience first (in 2 years time) before Australia makes an irrational, emotional and poorly judged decision that has the potential to screw up the development of 1000's of innocent children.

What's the hurry. Guys and Girls.

This is certainly not all about Gays and Lesbians.

regards
philip

>>restraining governments who would inflict laws that normalise the motherless or fatherless child.<<

That would be all of them, Dave. Neither the Coalition nor Labor have made any suggestions about plans to repeal the divorce laws. I can't see them changing their policy on this matter either.

But that doesn't really bother you does it? Because your problem isn't with motherless or fatherless children or you'd protest as strongly against single parenting. Obviously it's not the absence of an opposite sex partner that bothers you but the presence of a same sex partner. Cosmogirl is right:

>>Homophobe. Plain and simple.<<

Cheers,

Tony

To Tony Lavis, above: No, your cheap shot is off target. I have always argued that any provision in law is wrong that would force a child to live without a mother, or without a father, irrespective of the sexual proclivities of the adults involved. The offense is the same whether it is single people obtaining a child, or same-sex couples. I refer you, for example, to a paragraph from an earlier article of mine in The Australian (http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/a-dad-does-matter-to-a-child-whether-gay-couples-like-it-or-not/story-e6frg6zo-1226124001348)

"Obviously there are tragic situations where a child cannot have both a Mum and a Dad – such as the death or desertion of a parent – but that is not a situation we would ever wish upon a child, and that is not a situation that any Government should inflict upon a child. Yet legalising same-sex marriage will inflict that deprivation on a child. That is why it is wrong, and that is why all laws are wrong that permit single people or same-sex couples to obtain a child by IVF, surrogacy or adoption."