A COLOURFUL march in support of gay marriage drew a crowd of more than 100 people on the Border.
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For the likes of Janita Godde-Jenkins and Skye McDonald, pictured, the question of gay marriage was a no-brainer. Gay people have every right to be as miserable in marriage as everybody else.
Despite the humour, it does not need to be said that the issue is a serious one.
As the supporters rallied on a walk from the Lincoln Causeway to central Albury, a local parish was preparing for a marriage forum and family mass.
The events coincided by coincidence, with both groups unaware of the plans of the other.
The guest speaker at the forum at St Patrick’s in Albury was Bill Muehlenberg of the Family Council of Victoria and for him, the issue is also a no-brainer.
His view is that it is not a matter of discrimination that gay people can not marry, pointing out that there are all kinds of “rules” that apply to marriage in its current form.
He argues it’s not an issue of discrimination.
But there are no compromises for those for and against in this argument. Opinion will continue to be divided, and there is no common ground for the two sides to find.
And so the question is, who should decide the issue – politicians or the people?
Locally, Indi MP Cathy McGowan has shown her full support for gay marriage. Member for Farrer and Health Minister Sussan Ley has yet to disclose how she might vote on same-sex marriage, but has said she favours a conscience vote.
In Ireland, it was the people and not the pollies who approved a change to allow same-sex marriage unions.
It would appear the only way to decide the matter.
Our politicians are elected to represent our views widely, but it is an impossible task to represent all their constituents on this matter.
And it is not fair to expect them to do so. It would be an impossible task to expect politicians not to be led by their personal views when it comes to same-sex marriage.
Polls would suggest the majority of people support same-sex marriage so put a vote to the people and let democracy prevail.