Do you think it is unjust to prevent some people from having their relationship formally recognised? I don't see the postal vote as being as much about same sex marriage as about whether you believe that we have the right to dictate how others live their lives. This not about the sanctity of marriage or morality or Christian values (and yes I am a Christian and have been saddened at being lumped in the same boat as those who are judging the LBGTI community and are mistakenly making this vote out to be about good vs evil). This vote is about changing a man-made law that currently prevents some couples from having their relationship formally recognised in Australia. Would you be upset if you were told that your relationship was not valid, or not as important as those of your friends or neighbours? Would you be frustrated that other people can get married, but you can't? If you answered 'yes' to any of these questions, please vote yes in the upcoming plebiscite.
Attention fellow Christians, people of other religions, and those that align themselves with the right-wing (and there's an oxymoron if I've ever heard one), no matter how you feel about homosexuality, gay relationships exist! Marriage laws don't stop gay people from having relationships. The outcome of the postal vote (whether yes or no) will not create more or less LBGTI people. But a yes vote is a step towards stopping their persecution in our society by giving them equal rights with the rest of us.
If you believe in equality and mutual respect, vote yes.
Now I was just going to end this there, but I can't leave off the important point that this postal vote is a waste of money in the extreme. Fact: Australia's marriage laws have already been changed numerous times without consulting the people of Australia. Fact: Our government has the power to change the laws without spending hundreds of millions of dollars of taxpayers money on a vote that will tell them what countless polls have already made very clear - the majority of Australians support same sex marriage. Did you know that the outcome of the vote is not even legally binding, and the government don't have to act on it? How ridiculous is that? I would much rather see these millions used to build schools, employ more teachers, increase hospital beds, reduce surgery waiting times, provide low-cost housing to reduce homelessness, or even for infrastructure projects to create jobs. I am angry that taxpayer funds are being used on this stupid postal vote. But since it is going ahead regardless, we must use the opportunity to reinforce what the government already knows, and increase the pressure on them to change the laws and recognise same sex marriage. Do what is right and vote yes.
