Gay Marriage isn't revolution. It's just the next step in marriage's evolution!

Opponents of same-sex marriage worry that allowing two men or two women to wed would radically transform a time-honored institution. But they're way too late on that front. Marriage has already been radically transformed - in a way that makes gay marriage not only inevitable, as Vice President Biden described it in an interview late last year, but also quite logical.

We are near the end of a two-stage revolution in the social understanding and legal definition of marriage. This revolution has overturned the most traditional functions of the institution: to reinforce differences in wealth and power and to establish distinct and unequal roles for men and women under the law. For millennia, marriage was about property and power rather than love. Parents arranged their children's unions to expand the family labor force, gain well-connected in-laws and seal business deals. Sometimes, to consolidate inheritances, parents prevented their younger children from marrying at all. For many people, marriage was an unavoidable duty. For others, it was a privilege, not a right. Often, servants, slaves and paupers were forbidden to wed.

But a little more than two centuries ago, people began to believe that they had a right to choose their partners on the basis of love rather than having their marriages arranged to suit the interests of parents or the state.

Love, not money, became the main reason for getting married, and more liberal divorce laws logically followed. After all, people reasoned, if love is gone, why persist in the marriage? Divorce rates rose steadily from the 1850s through the 1950s, long before the surge that initially accompanied the broad entry of women into the workforce.

Read the rest of this article at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/06/AR2011010604911.html

Does the Australian Christian Lobby Group Want Blood on its hands??

Well, it’s a new year, and a new Victorian government. Sadly, though, it looks like the same old bigotry rearing its ugly head.

This time, it’s about bullying in schools, and the ever-popular concerned citizens who think it’s time Premier Ted Baillieu understood that the current funding situation to address this problem is just too darn unfair. Bullying is a big problem, after all, and our elected representatives need to make sure that taxpayers’ money is spent properly. Accordingly, they’re up in arms, determined to champion the needs of Our Precious Children against the ‘ideological agenda’ of questionable groups.

Sounds reasonable, right? The last thing most parents would want is to see kids become the victims of people pushing narrow and potentially damaging ideas. And bullying is a huge problem, so it’s important to make sure the best possible steps are being taken to protect and educate the kids.

But wait. Who are these Corrupters of Our Youth?

Apparently, it’s the Safe Schools Coalition of Victoria.According to the Australian Christian Lobby Group.

Read the rest of this article at http://consciencevote.wordpress.com/2011/01/06/does-the-acl-want-blood-on-its-hands/

McDonald's Lifts Blocks on some Gay Support Websites

McDonald's has begun allowing access to a number of gay-related websites from its free Wi-Fi service, but is sticking by its ban of a leading gay news website.

The fast food chain faced the anger of the gay community after denying access to gay-related websites on a new free Wi-Fi service at its restaurants.

The service, installed in branches nationwide in December, saw McDonald's claim it was now the largest free internet provider in New Zealand.

But the service filtered a number of sites it deems to fall outside its "family friendly" policy. This saw access blocked to a number gay and lesbian-related sites.

The ban has sparked anger from a community who feel McDonald's are imposing a "censorship of gay-themed sites".

Last night McDonald's began opening up the service, removing blocks on a number of websites including Rainbow Youth and Agender websites, as well as the website for New Zealand Family Planning

Read the rest of this article at http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/4530162/McDonalds-lifts-blocks-on-some-gay-websites

More Australian Federal MP's seek views on Marriage Equality

The campaign for marriage equality is set to hot up in 2011, with a further five MPs announcing they will seek their constituents views on same-sex marriage, while hundreds of people are arranging to meet their politicians to lobby them on the issue.

Read the rest of this article at www.starobserver.com.au/news/2011/01/12/more-mps-seek-marriage-views/41655

Australian Marriage Equality "Working for Equal Rights for ALL Australians"

Dear Supporter of Marriage Equality,

2011 will be the most important year yet for marriage equality. But reform will only be achieved with your help.

We are doing our best to educate our politicians and anyone who is conflicted about equality, and to engage those who oppose us.

However, if the Australian debate follows the course of similar debates overseas we can expect a well-funded campaign against the equal rights of same-sex couple.

There are two ways you can help the fight for equality:

1. Donating financially:
Your contribution will help to combat the advertisement campaigns of equality's opponents, engage legal experts, and maintain our strong media and web presence. Any contribution amount will help us to make a difference, to make a donation go to this link https://secure4.ilisys.com.au/austroj/donation.htm

2. Donating your time:
Spending face-time with your local MP or Senator will help them understand why marriage equality is so important. To organise a meeting with your local MP and/or Senator go to this link http://www.australianmarriageequality.com/wp/?page_id=135

Thank you for your support and I assure you Australian Marriage Equality will continue to staunchly and effectively fight for equality.