Josephus,

Leaving that joke to one side, homosexuals cannot opt out of the State regulation of their private lives that was introduced by Labor. Their choices were abolished by regulations that now apply whether they like it or not. It is compulsory.

The gay rights crew - without consultation - announced that homosexuals could like it or lump it. Loss of their previous choice and RIGHTS was in exchange for 'recognition'.

That was only to be expected of the totalitarian, anti-humanist feminists and 'Progressives' though. As leftists they presume to always know what is best for everyone else.

David F,
Malthus deployed in defence of same sex marriage, now I've heard everything. It's a characteristic of the left that when something does not compute they go deaf and blind and their memory doesn't work anymore, one of the central points of the pro case (your case!) is that same sex couples should have access to adoption, surrogacy and IVF so that they can HAVE CHILDREN!
Promiscuity is part and parcel of the Gay subculture, so is drug use and criminality, gay relationships are not usually monogamous, if there's a homosexual alive who met his sweetheart as a teenager and has been faithful ever since he needs to be captured and studied as one of nature's conundrums.
I don't have any Gay friends these days because I grew up, got a real job outside hospitality and stopped taking drugs and going to nightclubs. Have you ever been to a Gay club David? If so did you go into the toilets at any point and what did you witness there? I'm sure many young men would emerge from repeated participation in drug fueled toilet stall orgies with a good dose of PTSD, I still can't get the images out of my head and I wasn't even the one being repeatedly buggered. Hey I felt welcome at clubs like Mandate, 3 Faces and Bassline because I was there with friends and fellow druggies but any illusion of Gays being "normal people" was quickly dispelled upon seeing them at their sport and away from the gaze of polite society.

Dear Jay of Melbourne,

People usually respond to the way they are treated. Treat homosexuals as you would anyone else, and they will respond. I have never been in a gay club so I have not seen what you have seen. Treat people as though they are abnormal freaks, and they will behave as abnormal freaks do.

Paul,

I have already stated that I support marriage equality. The question then on my part is whether it is the quickest and best route to getting this legalised, and in my opinion it is not.

I read a very interesting political analysis a few years ago with regards this issue which put the issue in a different light. The conclusion was that those who supported marriage equality while in a majority were very unlikely to change their vote based on a party's position on the subject, while those opposed to ME were far more likely to change their votes, and these people are concentrated in the marginal seats. As counterintuitive as it sounds, ME is roundly supported in strong liberal, greens and wealthy area, but far less so in the working class areas.

In short, for a significant No of Marginal seats, the ME is a vote loser. A compulsory vote in Labor would guarantee a compulsory counter vote in the coalition and a serious loss for labor.

On the other side of the coin, if labor has a conscience vote, there is not much benefit to the coalition to maintain a compulsory vote.

Shadow,

Gee, we are not at loggerheads, why not! Forgetting for a moment that this is about a somewhat emotive issue in the community. What is your opinion on a political party formulating a policy, then as in this case, allowing its Parliamentary members a free vote. Why bother with the policy in the first place, it tends to come back and bite you later on. The Catholic right is still very strong in the ALP, Rubb and Abbott had something in common, they both like to go off and pray on a Sunday.
To put it simply Tanya Plibersek seems to be saying to the Labor Party we went to the trouble to formulate a policy, cut the nonsense of a conscience vote and start voting in a way that reflects that policy. Unlike the US where its routine for party members to cross the floor and vote with the other side and think nothing of it, here in Australia its big news when that occurs, we are shocked at maverick behavior by MP's. PUP suffered from it very early on, and Bob Katter had the guts to quite the Nationals because he could not support certain aspects of Coalition policy. So. if they need be, there are a few outs for those racked by their conscience.

Paul 1405,
So is it merely brinksmanship on the part of the Labor Left? Is the Plibersek faction calling the leadership's bluff on same sex marriage?
People can change their views on same sex marriage, I did but I wonder if Labor really can walk the walk?