I know I am writing about a very sensitive topic but I need to say something about it. I want to express my view and I’m not expecting anyone to agree with my opinion. If you have a different view, I am happy to hear about it.
For the last few months, the issue about same sex marriage is up in air in the Australian media. Prime Minster, Julia Gillard is pushing for a conscience vote on the subject as a compromise where as Christian groups are against any change to the marriage law which some people in the government want.
We say Australia is a developed country but people here still can’t be open enough to accept gay marriage as a part of normal society.
Growing up in Nepal, it was a very foreign concept to even know anything about gay and lesbian, forget about meeting one. I am sure there are gay people in Nepal but they are too scared of society and family to come out of the closet.
When I was studying in TAFE, I became good friends with an Italian guy RG and he is gay. For me he is like any other male friend so him being gay never is an issue in our relationship. Honestly in two years, I never made any judgement for or against him just because he is gay. Being friends with him I came to realise that being gay wasn’t a choice and I don’t think it should matter to anyone what his sexual orientation is unless they are his partner.
It is so strange that society impose things on us since the day we are born. Like pink for a baby girl and blue for a baby boy. Then when we are young, girls are meant to play with dolls while boys play with cars. Simple things like wanting to have short hair as a girl or loving nail polish as a boy is looked down as weird. All the fairy tales have a beautiful princess who falls in love with a prince charming. Even in most movies, it is a story about a man and a woman so it is normal for people to believe that heterosexual marriage is the only normal thing.
But seriously, normal is defined by society. You may have found that in different culture and different countries, there are sharp contrasts in what they call normal. For example: for Christians and other religions, a bride wears white for wedding while in Hinduism, bride wears red during wedding but wears white as a window. So which one is normal and which one is not.
Please look at the video.
If this video was shown to you randomly, the only thing you will see is a guy falling in love, having emotions and having a relationship that has ups and downs. Until you see another man at the end, did you feel that it was so normal and romantic? So just because it was with another man not a woman, why do people think it is wrong.
Who are we as a society to tell someone that their feeling is not real just because it doesn’t meet the society’s conventions. If they want to get married and live together as a couple, why are there so many organisations and individuals opposing that? We really don’t care when two heterosexual people get married so why is it such a big deal that two same sex couple decide to get married. If same sex couple get married, does anyone get hurt? Definitely not, so why is it so hard to pass the law to allow same sex couple to unite in the joy of marriage with the blessing of their family and friends.
If Holland, Sweden, Spain and South Africa can accept same sex marriage, why do Australian people have a problem? If you know anyone who is gay around you, you know that they are real people with real hearts who pay their taxes and live by the law so why are we discriminating against them just because of their sexual preference.
I know many religions consider being gay as a sin but that is your choice. Just because you follow and believe in that religion, doesn’t mean that the rest of the world needs to follow you as well.
They recently conducted a poll which showed that 60% of Australians support gay marriage but the government is still in a limbo. I really want the government to do something about it soon and pass the law for gay marriage so we live in a discrimination free society.
Marriage is all about love and commitment so it doesn’t really matter if that is between a man and a woman or a same sex couple. We should all just wish them happiness and support their decision to live their life together.
nepaliaustralian 
I have seen people ridiculing gays and I have never understood why. It just thier sexual preferences and that is the end of it. Once during such heated discussion with my friend he asked, what if you have a son and he is gay? I asked him, “what if YOU were gay and people looked at you and spoke about you like you eerre from a different planet? Thats what people do, pass judgements and forget they have feelings.
Great post. 🙂
You asked the right question. Kudos to you!!!
it’s just a matter of time untill this will be an ordinary thing…everybody should do what their heart says.
It is true that it is just matter of time but right now lots of same sex couples are suffering because of Australian law which doesn’t recognise same sex couple’s marriage. I wish people who vote has a heart to think about others too.
Related: See post from yesterday — “Is There a Christian Case For Same Sex Marriage?” at: http://JewishChristianGay.wordpress.com
-Alex Haiken
Yes, I totally agree! I wish everyone took the concept of similar sex marriages more positively. You “cant” live someone else’s life so “don’t’ judge them, dont enforce your opinions or support a society you don’t believe in, but for the sole purpose to be viewed as a part of the society you are supporting discrimination! Everyone should have the right to live their life in accordance to themselves. Gay people have just as normal lives as anyone else, I have some gay friends and they are the nicest people I know. I can’t believe Australia is finding it hard to accept this, because I thought we needed to start educating Asian countries to support gay marriages.
There are lots of people who are voting against to pass the same sex marriage act . I really hope in next few weeks, there is a solid outcome for this issue.