Same-sex marriage

THROSBY MP Stephen Jones is the new best friend of gay and lesbian couples.

Mr Jones was instrumental on Saturday in Labor amending its official policy platform to advocate same-sex marriage.

Federal MPs will vote next year on a Private Members Bill, which Mr Jones will put forward early next year, to allow same-sex couples to marry.

No doubt the homophobes will jump up and down about the idea of same sex couples marrying, after all, it was Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve, right?

But could that attitude be somewhat narrow minded?

It certainly was the way I used to think until many years ago when an eye-opening event changed my mind.

I used to work with a bloke whom I would drink with, play sport with, invite to parties; all that “normal” kind of “blokey” stuff.

Then one day I borrowed his car and, while driving into the sun, put the visor down and found a hand-written note: Chris loves Paul.

Suddenly I was confronted with mixed emotions because of my own bias – why should I now be intimidated or dislike Chris because he was gay? He was no different to the man I knew before I discovered his sexuality.

I know of many same-sex couples that live as married couples that have children and live and love the same as heterosexual couples. They nurture their children the same as heterosexual couples – and probably better than many heterosexual couples.

Should same-sex couples be denied the same benefits and opportunities as heterosexual couples?

Should they be denied “formalising” their union through marriage as heterosexual couples do?

Perhaps Stephen Jones is on the right track.

The above YouTube clip is very telling ...