What's even sadder, davo, is that many of those men would identify as 'heterosexual', and are often married with kids. There's nothing much sadder than a closet homosexual, except perhaps one who gets their jollies by having sex in a public toilet.

I've often wondered what sort of world it would be where people didn't feel ashamed of their sexuality - to the point where it is repressed to the point of denial and a furtive grope in a public dunny is its only form of expression.

What have homosexuals done to you, davo, that you deny their right to exist?

Morgan

Since many prominent Australians are openly homosexual, one should question whether they are really an oppressed minority. There are more homosexuals with access to priviledge and power than say, Aboriginals. Bob Brown, Michael Kirby and Kerryn Phelps to name a few. Public expression denied? I think not.

The reason why the issues surrounding homosexuality enter the public domain so frequently is because homosexuals have access to influence. So the equal opportunity Skidmore strives for, is mere fine tuning.

Skidmore likes ironies. Life is full of ironies, I work in a small business for a boss who is openly gay. He knows my position: sex is for procreation (& pleasurable so people have sex). He disagress. Somehow, we actually get along. Probably because he is discreet about his homosexuality, unlike some.

davo, if sex is only for procreation does that mean post menopausal women, infertile men,.... in fact, unless you're trying to get pregnant all people, hetero as well as homo, should refrain from sex? You really think that'll ever happen? Very sad little world you must live in. I feel sorry for your boss - he must have the patience of a saint.

With your big ban on sex - I guess the age of consent isn't even a question for you.

Davo is partly correct in terms of the struggle for gay rights in Australia being directed towards "fine tuning". Mind you, "fine tuning" involves a bit more than finding 2Day FM on the dial. It requires changing a huge amount of legislation around relationship recognition, aged care, parenting, adoption and more (see www.glrl.org.au). Nonetheless, gays are immensely better off than a decade ago. Personally, I would say I'm better off than many heterosexual women in my age and economic bracket. We've come a long way, baby.

That said, the plight of gays in rural and remote areas is still oppressive. And what about gay Indigenous people? Didn't think about them, did you? Not to mention the situation of gays in conservative Muslim families. Can you imagine being a lesbian in such a family where you are expected to marry and have children?

I am relatively privileged being a white gay male living in Sydney in a job working with other gays. However, I am mindful of the statistics relating to assault and murder for being gay (see avp.acon.org.au) and my relatively comfortable existence is because of what activists achieved before me. And I am not about to give up on the quest for full equality before the law.

Keep it up DavidJS, you are needed on websites like this, to repeatedly and tirelessly fight the good fight for tolerance and equality before the law in Australia.

Glad you liked the article, Grace. It was a bit of a rush job but as the issue was topical I had to do it in a hurry.

I'm surprised nobody as yet has taken up the issue of why young women's sexuality seems to be so undervalued by the WA Liberals. To me, that was one of the most shocking things. Not only a gay/straight double standard but a male/female one.