There has been a lot of buzz about gay marriage lately- both in Australia and overseas. While the issue is not new, it seems to bring all the zealots out of hiding to tout their "wisdom" loudly at the rest of us.
One of the most extreme condemnations of marriage equality was recently inflicted on the world by Paul Cameron. Cameron has long been an anti-gay hate campaigner, but in a radio interview he recently summarised the extent of his bigotry, and its religious origins, as such:
"..homosexuality is the one sin, or the one habit, that is 24/7. It is homosexuality all the time... Mark my words clearly; the long term goal of the homosexual movement is to get every little boy to grab his ankles and every little girl to give it a try. They will not rest until every one of our children at least gets to try, has the opportunity and maybe is forced to at least once experience homosexual acts. There is no retreating from that, they made it very clear earlier on—now they don’t take about it—but that’s what they want, they will not be happy until they get it, marriage is just a step along the way."
http://www.lgbtqnation.com/2012/05/paul-cameron-suggests-obama-is-gay-demands-gays-be-imprisoned-before-they-rape-kids/
From a scientific standpoint, I hope that more start to speak out and discredit Cameron's ridiculous "evidence" against homosexuality soon. A good example beginning is:http://psychology.ucdavis.edu/rainbow/html/facts_cameron.html
I think the irrationality of the main arguments against these common, usually religiously based, conservative, right-wing diatribes against gay marriage was summarised beautifully, with humour and sarcasm, here: http://littlelioness.net/2009/11/12/ten-reasons-why-gay-marriage-is-wrong/
In many countries, until the 1970s (although still continuing in some), there were laws against interracial marriage, yet to those of us born in or after the 1970s, such racist views seem ridiculously outdated and almost unimaginable. In my own family, being born of white, western European descent, we have now welcomed Taiwanese, Persian and African American family members by marriage... shocking! *Gasp!*?... or- in reality, it barely gets a second thought, as it should be.
So WHY should anyone be so opposed to gay marriage? Perhaps it's Bible verses such as "Marriage by God’s design is the union of one man and one woman" (Genesis 2:18) that inspire it?
If it is for religious reasons, on the assumption that marriage "belongs" to for example Christians, then why not so vehemently oppose inter-theological unions? Or marriages of other theology groups, such as Buddhism, who do not follow a deity, or even those most evil of all folks- such as myself.... the Atheists? Or, for that matter, anyone who has ever had sex- after all, Deuteronomy 22:13-21 states that "A marriage shall only be valid if the wife is a virgin. If the wife is not a virgin, she shall be executed."
Good- yes.. let's embrace the hatred, and discourage the foundation of what most people associate marriage with these days: not the Bible, or tradition, obligations or fear of social retribution, but LOVE.
In having legislation such as the Marriage Act 1961 in Australia, Governments have bought in to being part of the arguement. Although the original design of the Act was from the dominant Christian influence on society at the time, this is not a reason to retain it in its outdated, dsicrimanatory state which does not reflect the views and needs of current Australians.
As for those like Cameron who will continue to pollute the world with their hateful rants- I'm all for people having differing opinions, but if you cannot find a logical, defensible evidence base other than ignorance and hate mongering, then ever so kindly, do shut the fuck up.
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