ok so malcom turnbull (australian prime minister) has finally taken a millimetre of a step forward on the issue, but also took a 10 metre step backwards by confirming a non binding (!!) plebiscite on marriage equality. Non binding means that even if/when the consensus is yes, our fuckboi prime minister doesnt have to change shit. He says if the answer is yes he will change it, because we all know that politicians are always 100% trustworthy.
He is using this plebiscite as a way to give an even louder voice to the already hateful, stupid people actively opposing giving people basic social rights that they take for granted. He is providing TAX PAYER funding to not only the side arguing for equality, but also to the side arguing against it. This is ontop of the already ridiculously high costs this unnecessary plebiscite is costing.
This is costing $525 MILLION dollars. This is ludicrous! It is inefficient to hold this plebiscite as it is common knowledge that the large majority of Australians support gay marriage, and Australia is one of the very last developed countries to allow it. It would save so much time and money to not hold the plebiscite.
(Still want to throw all that money at something? Minus18 is a wonderful organization for young LGBT+ people that provides resources, support, articles and events)
The major arguments being used by those against equality are a) tHiNk oF tHE cHiLDrEn and b) it's not natural/what God intended.
On the first argument, i completely agree- we should think of the children, the queer children or those with two moms or two dads. The homophobes argue that children are impressionable, and believe everything they see. By saying all children are merely sheep who are stupid is not only an offensive generalization, it is inaccurate. Straight children arent going to magically become gay if they see two people of the same gender kissing, getting married or *gasp* holding hands.
However, some children and teens are impressionable, and when young lgbt+ people are forced to watch what will be close to 5 months of anti-gay ads, there are bound to be negative repercussions. With this being such a frontal issue (not that its a bad thing inherently) conversation about the subject is going to increase which is good when the conversations are progressive, but when children hear their parents saying negative things about queer people, they are likely to parrot it back to their friends at school. How about the non straight friends of these children who know no better? They are going to feel isolated, alone and hated. 92% percent of lgbt+ people report hearing negative things about their sexuality and gender identity. Bisexual people are close to 5 times more likely to commit suicide than heterosexual people are, and gay/lesbian people are 4 times more likely. Does this sound like a healthy statistic?
Schools are already rife with homophobia, and when this is televised for months on end, lgbt+ students are at an even higher risk of being bullied, self harming or commiting suicide.
on the second argument, 'homosexuality not being normal/intended by God' I'd like to pull up some bullshit from these arguments. The main verses quoted are usually 2. Leviticus 18:22: " Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination." 3. Leviticus 20:13: "If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them."
These passages are from Leviticus, of the old testament. The old testament is a covenent between God, BC. The new testament is how Christians are to live their lives anno domini. (for the record, the old testament also forbids
-braiding hair
-wearing jewellery
-eating meat from a pig
-ripping clothes
-getting tattoos
-getting divorced/remmaried
-playing american football)
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But have you seen politicians debate over whether ripped jeans should be allowed or not? Are there people actively protesting against divorce? You say 'they're minor issues, the old testament isnt all relevant etc' , so why do people pick and choose which parts are relevant? further more, why do people ignore pasages such as 1 Peter 4:8 "Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins" or Romans 13 :10 "love does no harm to a neigbour. Therefore love is a fuffillment of the law".
where was i going with this i had a point
ok its 1am and ive been working on this for 3 hours i need some sleep haha
