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As the Australian Prime Minister, John Howard, is such a close partner in crime with George Bush, and this year is also an election year here, Gay Marriages are on the political agenda here also, with a view to legislation being passed to outlaw them.

I don't want to touch much on that subject as it wouldn't effect me or my family whether two people of the same sex were legally married or not, because firstly, it's none of our business what others do and secondly I feel that politicians don't have the right to decide or interfere in how two people wish to live their life, whatever their sexuality. I take no issue about their right to be social commentators, the same as the rest of us, but legislating to enact their perceived moral beliefs, be they real or not, just seems over the fence to me.

The main issue I wish to bring up here is the image some people project to the general community which are self defeating in the least. I'm referring mostly to the Gay protest marches which are currently going on in protest to the proposed legislation banning same sex marriages.

The sight of bearded men in little girly dresses etc etc marching and waving placards is the type of thing which divides even the Gay community, let alone presents to the general community an impression of the bizzare and extreme. I have heard it commonly said in the community that these images make people feel extremely uncomfortable and also it's been said to me by many members of the gay community that the public sight of men in skimpy girly outfits, marching along sporting big beards and moustaches is not the image the Gay community at large want to present.

Whilst I agree that everyone has the right to express themselves within the law as they wish, I feel that these types of aggressive displays work against what we in the TG and Gay communities are andeavouring to achieve and they give added fuel to the politicians and church leaders to get the community in general onside with them by saying we are trying to re-design the world.

Overt, unnecessary and sometimes confrontationalist displays of aggression regarding peoples sexuality can be very self defeating, especially in the current climate where the pollies from both sides are jumping on the gay bashing bandwagon, irrespective of how many Gay and TG people there are who hold political office.

I believe it's also a matter of timing and right now in the political and social climate around the world, maybe now is not the right time for people to be protesting in hot pants with the backside out of them.

The politicians and church leaders would have us see marriage between a man and a woman as the institution which is the base of our society, that may be so, but I don't believe the institution is under threat as much from same sex marriages as it is from promiscuity, divorce and the stressful world we live in today.

I hope I haven't presented as gay bashing because I'm not, some of my dearest friends are G/L, I just feel there are ways and there are ways of achieving what you want and actions which divide the community rather than helping build tolerance is self defeating by a few which effects the majority.

Kind Regards.

Sally.

You are one wise lady Sally.

The politicians and church leaders need people like you have described to ensure they can get there way. Go figure?

Well said Sally! I could not agree more strongly.

Here in the US it is widely believed that it would require a Constitutional Amendment to outlaw homosexual marriage, based on the recent sodomy ruling delivered by the Supeme Court stating that indeed people do have a right to privacy.

I find it strange to use a document called "The Bill of Rights", to take away the rights of only some of our Citizens. The Chief Justice of our Supreme Court is part of a right wing faction of the Catholic Church, which is ultra orthadox. We have at least three other Justices who are commited to the Christian doctrine as a basis of Law. Our White House is occupied by an admitted Christian who refered to the "War on Terror" as a "Crusade". And if all that were not enough, Both Houses of our Congress are controlled by right wing Christians.

It should not be hard to others around the world to see that this government does not represent the true heart of America. There are many who view it as treason to oppose a President during a time of war. But let me assure you, The heart of America feels like this is another Viet Nam. A war that we all thought was the right and decent thing to do, only to find out that the premise on which the war was fought, was a total lie. It is embarassing, and a bit humilating to face my friends around the world and try to justify my Governments actions.

I guess the protests are just that, a protest. They know their voice is not going to change the view of the public debate. Mocking society is all they have left, maybe?
Love Always,
Elizabeth