Time for one poll to settle gay marriage issue

The assertion made by Michelle Goldsmith regarding recent letters opposed to changing the Marriage Act is confirmation that reverse discrimination is being practised by various sections of society.Homosexuals denigrating, defaming and pouring vitriol on persons opposed to their agenda in their many pride parades are said to be exercising their right of expression.However, should heterosexuals point out some undeniable facts relating to homosexual attitudes relating to the Marriage Act and other issues, they are accused of hate speech.Michelle’s claim that changing the act would dramatically reduce youth suicides is a furphy, designed to solicit sympathy for the cause. These young people need support from the broader homosexual community, not unnecessary pressure put on them to become radical activists. No person I have known, both young or middle-aged, ever blamed the Marriage Act for the rollercoaster ride of emotions experienced by themselves and their families while coming to grips with reality. As an astute and intelligent person, Michelle would be well aware that polling companies can and do manipulate results by phrasing a question in a certain way and the demographics of their sample group.The figures she quotes are confusing. A few weeks ago she was adamant 70 per cent of the nation supported changes to the Marriage Act; this week it varies between 65 and 80 per cent and in Bendigo there is a massive 47 per cent in favour. There is but one organisation that can arrange a poll which will give a clear and unequivocal result to this dilemma. That organisation is the Australian Electoral Commission.Let’s just have one poll to settle the issue. Homosexuals should lobby their supporters in parliament to use their numbers to have a plebiscite held, at the next election or before.The social ramifications of this proposal are too important to be decided by a small group of politicians who are willing to appease any vocal minority group in order to cling to power.Given the support homosexuals claim to have, they should have nothing to fear from allowing the people to make the decision. We could then all accept and support whatever result was achieved by this democratic process – and live and let live.David Arscott,Kangaroo Flat