Marriage Equality Opponents Around The World Undermine Their Own Cause

The anti-equality campaign down in Australia suffered a rather unnecessary own goal this week when Jim Wallace, the head of the Australian Christian Lobby, suggested that the homosexual male "lifestyle" was more dangerous than smoking. Interestingly he cited the same life expectancy reduction of 20 years as the Scottish Catholics, who were quoting a 2005 study based on obituaries. I've dealt with the fairly obvious faults on the more dangerous than smoking line before.

The own goal part came when Julia Gillard, the Prime Minister of Australia, cancelled her top billed speech at the ACL's conference next month. Gillard, an opponent of marriage equality herself, said:

 ''To compare the health effects of smoking cigarettes with the many struggles gay and lesbian Australians endure in contemporary society is heartless and wrong,'' 

''Although everyone is entitled to their own view, these statements reiterated again today on behalf of ACL are totally unacceptable. In light of this, I believe my attendance at the conference would be inappropriate." 

''There are a range of deeply held views in the community on the issue of same-sex marriage but it is the responsibility of all parties in this debate to be respectful and responsible in any public comments they make.'' 

The more exposure the anti-equality groups arguments get, the more the moderates and the undecideds move away from them.

Meanwhile over in the United States of America...  a Democratic member of the Maryland House of Delegates, Emmett C. Burns Jr., was very unhappy with the pro-marriage equality position of Brendon Ayanbadejo (an American football player for the Baltimore Ravens) and wrote a letter to the team basically asking them to shut him up. Whilst the team rather maturely decided not to respond to him, one of Ayanbadejo's footballing colleagyes, Chris Kluwe, gave him a strongly-worded and rather amusing response which has since gone viral on Twitter.

I find it inconceivable that you are an elected official of Maryland's state government. Your vitriolic hatred and bigotry make me ashamed and disgusted to think that you are in any way responsible for shaping policy at any level. The views you espouse neglect to consider several fundamental key points, which I will outline in great detail (you may want to hire an intern to help you with the longer words)... 

...Have you not heard of Kenny Washington? Jackie Robinson? As recently as 1962 the NFL still had segregation, which was only done away with by brave athletes and coaches daring to speak their mind and do the right thing, and you're going to say that political views have "no place in a sport"?... 

...I can assure you that gay people getting married will have zero effect on your life. They won't come into your house and steal your children. They won't magically turn you into a lustful cockmonster.

Yet again the anti-equality movement shoot themselves in the foot, giving time and publicity to the pro-equality arguments whilst they end up looking authoritarian and foolish. Thank you anti-marriage equality activists, you are really helping our cause!

If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist