Same-sex marriage debate: ‘I’m no homophobe but I fear for vulnerable children’

Sep 15, 2017 by Jill

by Karina Okotel, Sydney Morning Herald:

[…] The vitriolic abuse people experience for holding views in opposition to the legalisation of same-sex marriage is phenomenal. A culture has developed whereby it’s acceptable to vilify, mock, abuse and shame anyone who stands in the way or even raise questions about whether we should legalise same-sex marriage.

I have been called a homophobe, a bigot and been told that my views are disgusting. I count anyone brave who has added a Facebook banner to their profile saying that they’re voting “no”, as almost inevitably they’ve copped a torrent of hate. And why is this?

The “yes” campaign has framed its debate about being one for equality and for justice. And who could stand against this?

When I first considered the legalisation of same-sex marriage several years ago, I was all for it. I thought that if two consenting adults want to marry, what does it hurt anyone else? At that point in time I would have voted “yes”.

But the more I looked into the issue and the more I have observed the experience of other countries that have legalised same-sex marriage my concerns grew. You cannot, after all, fundamentally shift an institution we have always had, that is practised the world over without there being consequences.

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