Andreas writes
'This is a human rights issue of whether an individual has the absolute right to choose a life companion '

Everyone already has that right. Just don't pervert marriage in including homosexuality as part of it.

I do not see same sex marriage as a human rights issue. It may be seen as such by some in Australia but human rights vary as to the number of countries and societies on this planet.

Something acceptable in one society could bring you the death penalty in another.

Who is right? Good question.

Unlimited human rights is but one step away from anarchy. We do need suitable government, laws and discipline for any society to work. If same sex marriage be an acceptable part of the mix in a society so be it, but if it is not so the reverse should apply.

It is of little interest to me except to say do not champion these unions under the banner of human rights. It is a personal thing and should remain that way.

Take it easy.

SD

It is IMPORTANT.
That we say or do nothing that will hurt this forum.
I say that knowing this forum lost money because a poster offend advertisers.
I am not gay.
Not against them haveing the right to a form of marriage.
I however want the right to say this.
In defending the human rights of minority's,we MUST NOT CRUSH those of others.
In a thread about can we talk about race a hidden event took place.
During the life of that thread the former leader of Victoria, a man who has political views I never can.
Was squashed insulted and damned, for saying what he thought.
My side of the fence will always Be left but if free speech is only for some?
Left but never Green, Let them wed but not for getting the rights of most of us.

The right to equality before the law is one of the
most fundamental of all human rights principles
yet the Marriage Act does not recognise that right
of gay and lesbian couples.

Gay and lesbian couples have the same resposibilities to
pay taxes as anybody else. They are bound by compulsory
voting laws. They're not exempt from jury duty or any
other responsibilities under the law because they love
people of the same sex rather then the opposite sex.
So why in 2011 do they not have the right to marry
the one they love like the rest of us do?

This is a human rights issue. The denial of human rights
to same sex couples to marry, which other people are allowed
to do - but not them. Laws should be about equity for all,
not just for some.

I have no objection to homosexual unions of two, or more, people.

My objection is simply word useage. The word marriage means a legal union of a man and a woman. Then leave that alone.

Think up another word for a union of two males or two females. There is no need to hyjack a word already in use with a specific meaning.

...Very fortunately most people ignore the ABC and its obvious "slewed" opinion broadcast as "main stream thinking" which foists support for gay campaigns across the air waves at every opportunity.

...If gay rights were a human rights issue then the majority of thinking people who represent the conservative silent majority of Australians would have thrown confetti at the first gay couple to walk down the aisle one fine Saturday, many years ago!

...And comments of support for gay marriage from retiring SA Premier Mike Rann should be ignored; As the speech writer for Don Dunstan, reasons for Ranns bias are obvious.

...Homosexuality has unjustifiably positioned itself as non-abberational and the "Chick" thing to be, but to present this abberation of sexuality so publicly as a classic case of human rights abuse should be the subject of Government inquiry, not the claim to a percieved abuse of human rights, which plainly it isn't.

...In fact, what is further needed is the repeal of authorization for the Sydney Gay mardi-gra, unjustly foisted upon us, until "all" social impacts of the exploitation of the citizens of that fine city of Sydney and the state of NSW by the minority political movement of "Gay Rights", have had a fair chance to voice opposition to this major embarrassment. We in NSW, and in the absence of a succession of corrupt Labor state Governments which have overseen the embarrassment, demand from Barry O'Farrell, an inquiry into all aspects of its implementation from the past, as a matter of urgency.

...Dan!