Arjay, you claim "No one on this planet when moving from traditional concepts that in the past have ensured communal survival, should be assured of an easy passage".

The Mum, Dad & kids concept of a family has never ensured communal survival. For the vast majority of human existence, we lived in small to medium tribes where children were very lucky to have both parents survive their most formative years, and were largely raised by whatever adults happened to be around.

In more modern times, we've had the luxury of being able to choose our preferred family arrangements, with minimal concerns about mortality, and clearly a substantial portion do choose the nuclear family option (though less than half of us actually live in such families). But a great number of studies have been done on how well children cope with various family arrangements, and about the only thing the conclusions seem to have in common is how well children cope and adapt to all sorts of combinations and permutations.
It's true that there is evidence that among lower socio-economic groups, the lack of a positive adult male role model can be an issue for boys (this is especially a problem in communities where a large number of adult males end up in prison), and there is something to be said for ensuring that when such boys are brought up by women only, whether through choice or not, or where the only adult males around are obviously negative role models, that attempts are made to expose those boys to adult males capable of fulfilling the positive role model position.

However this really has little to do with gay marriage, seeing as same-sex couples frequently take on the responsibility of rearing children already. No doubt this will increase with time as it becomes more accepted, but even if evidence did surface that this was causing issues in a percentage of cases, there's certainly no cause for assuming the only solution is to universally disallow such arrangements.

David & Stickman,

Arjay wrote: "No one on this planet ... should be assured of an easy passage."

Fnar Fnar!

Vanilla - cheeky girl

Arjay - I really want an answer on this:

Explain how two people of any gender or sexual persuasion, declaring love and committment to each other, constitutes a health hazard to others?

You can't make statements like: "This topic has serious health consequences for all of us."

Without anything to back up your claim.

Do you mean to say that marriage is unhealthy for all people?

Or just straights?

Please explain.

Johnny, don't worry too much about anything Arjay says, but I think he was talking about having amalgam in your mouth constituting a health hazard (as in dental work) - nothing to do with the topic.

Hey speaking of off topic, I went and saw Rufus Wainwright last night in Sydney.. I mention it here because there are a few people who might be interested.. fabulous! Arjay - you probably don't know him but he is very gay and very talented.. going to hell in a handbasket of course but having a lot of fun doing so.

cheers

I think that the hate and venom by many displayed by many gays on this forum says it all.Just a few well chosen words and they launch into a rabid orgy of personal attacks and hate.You only hate what you fear and cannot control.Your words speak volumes about your insecurity.I do not hate or dispise,I am just revealing the sneeky underhanded social engineering that is your agenda.
You have no concept of the hardship and sacrifice of many ordinary heterosexual families endure every day.The educated gays are indeed a spoilt,affluent self indulgent lot.They have intelligence that can justify almost anything.Our legal fraternity is oozing with this equivocating,mentality that can justify all manner behaviour.

Why was Franka Arena silenced by the the Labor Party,when in now becomes apparent that we have so many paedophile judges and a legal system that is soft on this growing debauchery?Most paedophiles pray on young boys who are still sexually maturing.They also have sex with adult males.Are they homo or hetero or just conveniently ignored?

I do not see an honest portrayal of intent with many pushing this high profile gay agenda.They hide behind the mantra of victim status just to push their hidden agendas.

I think that most males need the moderation of the female psyche,since they lose the plot without some form of discipline both sexually and intellectually.

Arjay, if that is your idea of a rational discusion over what arguments there may be for and against permitting same-sex marriages, then I see little point in engaging in further debate.

FWIW, I personally find the idea of sexual intercourse with another man offputting in the extreme. The same-sex couples I know well are all lesbians, and I would trust them with the raising of my own child any day.