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Articles on Same-sex marriage

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Australians are surprisingly bad at thinking about the place of religion in society. AAP/Tracey Nearmy

Religious freedom should not necessitate sexual discrimination

Australia has an apparent conflict between religious freedom and sexual anti-discrimination legislation. It is particularly prominent in three areas: marriage, education, and social service provision.
The sacrament of marriage that takes place in the eyes of God is a separate process from the state’s legal recognition of the coupling. Shutterstock/MNStudio

State view won’t change marriage in eyes of a man and woman’s God

The sacrament of marriage does not depend on the law, which exists only to regulate the rights and responsibilities arising from the practice. For religious believers, same-sex marriage won’t change their union.
Policymakers and the outcomes they produce can play a powerful role in shaping public opinion on questions of same-sex rights. AAP/Alan Porritt

How do individuals shape their views on same-sex rights?

Government policies regulating sexuality play a significant role in shaping citizens’ attitudes about sexual orientation and same-sex relationships.
The claim that same-sex marriage harms children doesn’t stack up against the current evidence. Lopolo/Shutterstock

In families with same-sex parents, the kids are all right

A central argument made against same-sex marriage is that children born into these marriages will be disadvantaged: they will grow up with inappropriate gender role modelling and be bullied at school.
Bill Shorten has introduced a bill into parliament to amend the Marriage Act and allow same-sex marriage in Australia. AAP/Mick Tsikas

Explainer: how Australia can legalise same-sex marriage

The legislative reform required to allow same-sex marriage is not complicated. There is relative consensus as to how this can be achieved.
Tony Abbott risks having same-sex marriage used against him electorally – just as his Liberal Party once tried to use it against Labor. AAP/Mick Tsikas

Why Australia is so far behind the times on same-sex marriage

As opposition leader Bill Shorten prepares to introduce an amendment on Monday to the Marriage Act to legalise same-sex marriage, why has Australia lagged so far behind?
‘When you’re in the gun sights yourself, target Bill Shorten’ is a core tactic in the government’s toolkit. AAP/Tracey Nearmy

Involve Brandis and Bishop, not just Dutton, in decisions on dual citizens

It’s more than a touch hilarious how the Liberals are determined to claim eventual ownership of what seems the likely endorsement of same-sex marriage by parliament later this year. If a change is made…
Lance Loud in a 1973 PBS publicity photo for An American Family. public domain

Homophobia just ain’t what it used to be

Outright homophobia has mostly moved from the mainstream of public discourse to its margins. For this, we can thank pioneers like Lance Loud of An American Family.
Bill Shorten’s gay marriage push has been described as ‘all about Bill’. AAP/Tracey Nearmy

Same-sex marriage heading to cross-party bill

Some pro-gay marriage Liberals might be railing against Bill Shorten’s pre-emptive move but its effect has been to suddenly raise the prospect of common political ownership of the issue.
The world is recognising that the issue of same-sex marriage is a matter of what state law, not religious doctrine, says, to the extent that Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Xavier Bettel (right) and Gauthier Destenay recently married. EPA/Julien Warnand

Same-sex marriage should not be a matter for a conscience vote

Same-sex marriage is about state recognition of the union between two people and is a political issue. Religious belief can apply in a church and in individual decisions, but not to a secular state.

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