contd..

the advent of AIDS in society has been a derminant as to how gay pple have changed sexual practices to safeguard their health.

Im not sure there is enough evidence collated thus far to determine wether these unions psychologically damage children living in them or not.I do know that gay pple are no different than straight pple, just their sexual orientation.

As for the issue of sodomy..well Runner, I have been around long enough to know that this happens in staight marriages ie;man/woman, as well.

And Celivia, Holland sounds as though it has more liberal veiws on SS unions than Australia does.

Celivia I dont know of any good christians off the top of my head, but hope we can get lucky.

Forget religion. Nobody should be "ready to accept" sexual perversion. The fact that all states - I understand that SA was the last - have granted certain equal rights to cohabiting perverts shows how far down the road to ruin Australia has gone.

Correction from last post: It’s about time that people stopped hassling homosexual people.

Billy,
your church/religion at least seems more accepting than some of the other Christian churches- the way it should be! Homosexual people should have the same right to go to church and feel accepted there as anyone else. Your church sets a good example.

I'm especially appalled by the sect Exclusive Brethren for their homophobic views and their attack on the Greens for their acceptance of homosexuality.
I am not a religious person myself, so I have to hear from others how their churches are dealing with the issue.

Holyshadow,
I feel for your brother that he hasn’t been accepted by his community and some of his family members. I assume that he does not live in a city as there are some areas where gays are not at all uncommon and are accepting of SSC or single homosexuals. He should be proud to be homosexual and keep his head up!
It’s hard to believe that gay-bashings still happen in a modern, developed country in this century! It’s a good thing that at least you can be there for him.
I would have no problem at all if one of my kids would turn out to be gay- they’ll be exactly the same kids that I love no matter who they happen to fall in love with. Not all parents can cope with the idea of their child being gay.

“…the associattion that pple make about gay pple and children ie; pedophelia..some pple actually do believe it or not.”
Oh yes, I do believe it!
Even on OLO there have been people making associations or connections between pedophilia and homosexuality.
Same for single parent families: it’s not like all complete families with mum, dad and kids are all ideal, is it?
Every situation is different and we must look at individual cases instead of generalise or unfairly label families.

continued

And about sodomy: What’s the problem- homosexual couples as well as heterosexual couples have the right to do what they please in their own bedrooms as long as there is mutual consent. Everybody should mind their own sex lives instead of worrying about what other couples might do! Live and let live!

Opinionman,
we all, as parents, have to introduce our children to all kinds of families that exist in our communities including single parent couples and SSC.
Making something taboo is not ever going to improve things- get it out in the open.

Last year there was this turmoil when preschool teachers somewhere in Sydney read some picture books to the toddlers about homosexual families. These books were innocent and just an introduction to let kids know that sometimes children can have two mummies or two daddies, but it was blown up by the media as if kids had been shown porn!

What should parents and preschool teachers do? Teaching their kids that only two parent, heterosexual families are OK?

It’s just teaching about real communities- why hide reality from kids!?
There are some really good books for parents to use that introduces to children all kinds of families including Same Sex families. The earlier the better!

“Celivia I dont know of any good christians off the top of my head, but hope we can get lucky.”

Holyshadow…neither do I, so we shouldn't risk holding our breath :)
Billy or even Runner, can you explain why most Christian (and Muslim) religions are so opposed to homosexuality?

I think Philo has tried to explain it to me in the past but as an atheist I really don't get it when there's talk about unnaturalness! Brushing our teeth doesn't seem natural either. I even believe that homosexuality is a natural occurance in nature, so nah...I don't get it.

Leigh,

Could you tell me please what it is about homosexuality that is so perverted?
I am presuming you speak of the act of sodomy?

Would you not agree then that the act of sodomy between a man and woman is also perverted then?These are 2 married consenting adults performing the exact same act.

When one makes such strong angry statements I tend to think it is based on fear and ignorance and a very closed mind.

Pple can be too ready to listen to the nasty negative stuff bandied around by pple who have as little understanding of the issue as themselves.

My brother as I said is gay..he hates the fact and it would be the eaiest thing in the world for him to turn around one day and simply say 'hey, this is all too hard, I cant live with the fear and hatred any longer..I think I might just decide to be straight and normal now'..

If he were not truly born gay, there is no way on Gods earth one would burden themselves with this label..and be a hated and villified minority.

They might be gay but they are not stupid.

Unfortunately Celivia, gay bashings are all too common..it is not in uncommon to hear in whispered ,and not even so whispered circles, by young straight men that are 'going out to find and bash/kill a fag'

There is a lot to fear in this commnity for gay men and why I say who would 'choose' this life.

Leigh said: “Forget religion. Nobody should be "ready to accept" sexual perversion. The fact that all states - I understand that SA was the last - have granted certain equal rights to cohabiting perverts shows how far down the road to ruin Australia has gone. “

Leigh,
Forgetting religion I can do.

But why should Australians not accept people with a different sexual orientation?
I would not call it ‘sexual perversion’ but rather ‘sexual orientation’ or 'preference'.

Whatever you call it, what is the reason that homosexuality should not be accepted?

And what will, in your opinion, exactly happen to Australia to ruin it if same sex marriage were accepted?

People should be free to live with and share a live with whoever they please.
What would you like to see happen to homosexual people who have fallen in love?
Are they supposed to suffer loneliness rather than live with the partner they love just to please the homophobics?
Or should they live with someone of the opposite sex which they are not sexually attracted to and feel miserable for the rest of the marriage?
Just to please homophobics?

Not a good enough reason.

It seems to me that the homophobics are doing the damage to Australia rather than the homosexuals.

Oh I've already used up my 4 posts, so I'll be good and quiet for a while.

But I'll be back! ;+)