I’ve voted in more elections that I can remember, but even so, today I took a few minutes to ensure my electoral details were correct. If Brexit taught us anything, it’s that when you don’t take part in voluntary voting processes you leave yourself open to awful results. So my message to anyone reading this is please do the same and check your enrolment at www.aec.gov.au. Actually it is more than this. Make sure you are enrolled to take part in the plebiscite AND make sure you vote YES! Not that the result of this ridiculous plebiscite will affect me at all. As a heterosexual, I was free to enjoy the unforgettable day of my wedding and whether or not marriage equality becomes recognised by legislation won’t actually have any impact. Nor will it take away that opportunity for any of my heterosexual friends.
However I also have LGBTI friends and much as I know they haven’t asked for this public debate around their worth as human beings, if they have to endure it, let’s at least make this the last time the question is raised by returning a resounding ‘Yes.’ Moreover, fairness is important to me. I don’t like living under outdated, illogical and unjust laws. It is not only embarrassing, but also cognitively unsettling for me. Because despite all the hyperbolic smoke and mirrors there is no good argument against marriage equality. In tacit recognition of this fact, the latest effort I have seen from a number of conservative commentators has been the suggestion that the language and zeal of marriage equality advocates are pushing them to vote for continued discrimination against the LGBTI community. This draws on a similar theme to a popular argument used to explain why many voters supported Donald Trump, but one that is quite flawed. Of course, I could bring up hundreds of examples of hate speech from those against marriage equality as counterpoint, but I don’t have to because this whole argument is ridiculous. Voters are not eligible to vote until they are 18 years old. They are not children so I don't have to tiptoe around their feelings like they are toddlers. You are given the right to vote because you are considered to be responsible enough to make a mature decision about what is right, not lash out in some sort of protest vote because a marriage equality advocate hurt your feelings with some harsh truths. Grow up.
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