.

Below:On May 13, 2013 the hosts of Weekend Sunrise discussed United States President Barack Obama's recent support for same-sex marriage and considered whether Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and other Australian politicians should also re-evaluate their opposition to this question. The report includes an informal survey of the views of current Australian members of Parliament.




Below: On May 14, 2012, there was an exchange between Opposition shadow Treasurer, Joe Hockey, and Labor Finance Minister, Penny Wong on the ABC’s discussion program Q&A. Hockey opposes same-sex marriage, Wong (who is in a same-sex relationship and has a child with her partner) supports it. .




Below: On February 28, 2012, the ABC’s religious issues program Compass looked at the situation of three same-sex couples in Australia who would like to be allowed to marry. This is the first of a two-part program on the issue of same-sex marriage. It runs for 28 minutes. .




Below: On February 29, 2012, the ABC’s religious issues Compass invited six prominent Australians to a dinner during which they present arguments for and against same-sex marriage. This is the second of a two-part program on the issue. It runs for 28 minutes.





Web links, documents


Religious Tolerance Org has an extensive section of its ethical debate sit given over to Same-Sex Marriage and Civil Unions. Though the site presents both sides of the debate its bias is in favour of same-sex marriage.
The index to this section of its site can be found at http://www.religioustolerance.org/hom_marwhy.htm

Australian Marriage Equality supports same-sex marriage. The arguments the group puts in favour of same-sex marriage can be found at http://www.australianmarriageequality.com/case.htm

In June 2010 The California Law Review published an opinion piece by Martha Nussbaum titled 'A Right to Marry?' The piece defends the rights of same-sex couples to marry from a basic human rights perspective and from the point of view of the United States Constitution.
The full text of this opinion piece can be found at http://www.californialawreview.org/assets/pdfs/98-3/Nussbaum.FINAL.pdf

On August 4, 2011, the ABC's Religion and Ethics site posted an opinion piece by Reverend Rod Benson titled 'Ethical arguments against same-sex marriage laws'.
The full text of this opinion piece can be found at http://www.abc.net.au/religion/articles/2011/05/20/3222067.htm

On August 5, 2011, the ABC's Religion and Ethics site posted an opinion piece by theologian David Novak titled 'No right to marriage for same-sex couples'. The piece opposes same-sex marriage. Novak seeks to counter the arguments put by Martha Nussbaum.
The full text of this piece can be found at http://www.abc.net.au/religion/articles/2011/01/18/3115445.htm

On August 12, 2011, the ABC's opinion site The Drum published an opinion piece titled 'Same-sex marriage: Australia's policy of discrimination without borders' by Elizabeth O'Shea and Simone L Petersen. The piece argues in favour of same-sex marriage and looks at the implications for homosexual couples who travel overseas of Australia's refusal to allow them to marry.
The full text of this opinion piece can be found at http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/2835500.html

On September 14, 2011, the ABC's opinion site The Drum published an opinion piece by Rodney Croome titled, 'Parkinson report an argument for same-sex marriage'. The piece looks at the damaging psychological effect that a lack of wide-spread social acceptance has on the mental health of homosexuals.
The full text of this opinion piece can be found at http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/2897380.html

On September 21, 2011, the ABC's opinion site The Drum published an opinion piece by practising Christian, Andrew Tiedt, titled 'Legalise gay marriage, what's the harm?'
The author argues that the religious convictions of some within the Australian electorate should not be able to shape the country's laws.
The full text of this opinion piece can be found at http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/2909800.html

On November 23, 2011, The Punch ran an opinion piece by evangelical Christian pastor and theologian, Nathan Nettleton, titled 'Why I changed my mind about same-sex marriage'. The pastor argues in favour of same-sex marriage from the point of view of respecting freedom of conscience.
The full text of this opinion piece can be found at http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/why-i-changed-my-mind-about-same-sex-marriage/

On November 25, 2011, The Sydney Morning Herald ran a an opinion piece analysing recent survey data and arguing that the Australian public has significant reservations about gay marriage and is not ready for a change of law.
The full text of this article can be found at http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/australia-is-not-ready-to-say-we-do-to-gay-marriage-20111124-1nwy2.html

On December 2, 2011, The Punch ran an opinion by David Penberthy in which he examines the wide diversity of attitudes within Australian electorates toward the issue of gay marriage.
The full text of this article can be found at http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/gay-marriage-theres-nothing-easy-about-saying-i-do/

On February 15, 2012, The Sydney Morning Herald published opposing opinion pieces on the issue of gay marriage. The first is written by Stephen Jones, MP for Throsby (Labor, New South Wales) who supports the legalisation of same-sex marriage. The second is written by Kevin Andrews, Coalition spokesman for families, housing and human services, and MP for Menzies (Victoria) who opposes same-sex marriage.
The full text of these opinion pieces can be found at http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/blogs/the-party-line/should-samesex-marriage-be-legalised-in-australia-and-why-20120215-1t51l.html

On February 20, 2012, the Family Council of Victoria published an opinion piece by Bill Muehlenberg titled 'The Case Against Same-Sex Marriage'.
The full text of the opinion piece can be found at http://www.fcv.org.au/the-case-against-same-sex-marriage

On March 13, 2012 the ABC's Religion and Ethics site published an opinion piece by John Milbank, Research Professor of Politics, Religion and Ethics at the University of Nottingham, Director of the Centre of Theology and Philosophy. Milbank argues for the primacy of heterosexual unions in terms of the perpetuation of the species.
The full text of this opinion piece can be found at http://www.abc.net.au/religion/articles/2012/03/13/3452229.htm