Bring on the plebiscite and stop with this ignorance personified rubbish that treats a natural aberration as if it were mere choice!
An unexamined life or belief system is just not worth having and I dare say responsible for most of the troubles this world seems to be having?
Rhrosty.

Hi Cobber

Thanks for the link. The position outlined in that paper is not the same as Martyn’s paper presents as Trigg’s argument. The paper acknowledges that same-sex marriage is not mandated by international law, but proposes that it is consistent with it, and also with other principles that should guide governments’ approaches to this issue, such as equality.

I couldn’t find a transcript of Triggs’ evidence by Google. If Martyn is right, it is unfortunate that Triggs either misunderstood or misrepresented international law on this issue.

I don’t think it’s especially important in the Australian debate, though. Australians should decide whether or not to adopt same-sex marriage on the basis of what is the right thing to do for our society and culture, not because the UN tells us to ( or doesn’t). Personally, I support it

It is a pity that the author's religious convictions lead him to a dismissal of Gillian Triggs and a misrepresentation of the law. If there is an emperor without clothes it is the Christian lobby and its blindness.

Joslin v New Zealand is an old case and the legal opinion now is that it is unlikely to be repeated if a similar case came before the court, not only because of evolving social attitudes but also significant changes to the law. For a discussion on why it is now regarded as bad law see Gerber et al Marriage: A Human Right for All? Sydney Law Review vol 36 642.

Mr Iles also refers to Hamalainen v Finland. That was a 2014 case that involved the legal status of a male person, already married, who had a sex change operation. It revolved around its own unique facts.

The case of Oliari v Italy is a 2015 case and is the current definitive pronouncement on the rights of same sex couples under European human rights law. The court held that Italy was legally obliged to recognise and protect same sex unions as it is with heterosexual unions.

In short, Mr Iles' argument is a nonsense, and his ideologically based argument is no substitute for the actual law.

You can call a dog "a bird" Phanto, but it still won't fly.

The pooftas are still whinging about gay marriage, while the Muslims they support as "fellow minorities" increase their numbers in Europe to the extent that Islam will be running the place by 2100.

While the poofs scream about how horrid the 'breeders" are in not giving them marriage equality, at least we are not proposing to stone homosexuals to death, or toss them off tall buildings. Which, is going to happen in the not too distant future.

The biggest threat to homosexuals is this alliance between the soft totalitarians of the multicultural left, with the hard totalitarians of the Islamic Right. But the homosexuals support the soft totalitarians, and they support the Muslim hard totalitarians, because they think that they can control the Muslims after they have destroyed their own society which does not give them everything they demand. It is just like the Jews in Germany supporting Hitler because they think that democracy in Germany is worse than a government controlled by National Socialism.

For the homosexuals and their supporters, you may win this battle, but you are going to lose the war. When the Muzzies start chucking you off buildings, just remember that LEGO said "I told you so!"

Triggs was caught out making fibs up about guards having guns. Her judgement is extremely questionable. I for one don't want unhealthy lifestyles promoted and condoned. To call it marriage is sick.

Our humanity has totally lost the plot. Dr Paul Craig Roberts sums it up really well.http://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2015/10/19/whatever-happened-to-sex/

"People still get married, but the percentage is declining for economic and divorce court reasons and because of the availability of sex outside marriage. Moreover, in the marital bedroom there is no dominatrix with a giant balloon to help to get you off. Today the people most interested in marriage are homosexuals, lesbians, and transgendered. Marriage is a way of legitimizing themselves and what would once have been called perverted sexual preferences."