Gay marriage is not a big deal.

It’s hard not to become incensed when you read articles that directly disagree with your own stance. As much as I don’t feel that Miranda Devine’s column on the weekend was a particularly insightful piece, I’ve spent the last 24 hours convincing myself that she is entitled to her opinion.

I don’t agree though, and I want to make that so, so very clear.

Penny Wong announced last week that she, along with her partner, is to become a parent in December. Their press release was simple, and Penny herself did not make a big ‘to do’ about it all. Their private joy was shared ever so fleetlingly with us, and Penny, along with her partner Sophie, should be congratulated for their exciting news.

Does this stoke the fires of the gay marriage debate?

Only because those in opposition to gay marriage choose to let that be the case. I, for one, think gay marriage is NOT A BIG DEAL.

The only reason same sex marriage receives so much attention is because those in opposition to it are so vocal and uninhibited in expressing their opinions. Do I think you are a homophobe if you think those of the same sex should not be allowed to get married? Yes. Simply because you cannot see past gender and sexuality to recognise another human being’s right to publicly celebrate their love for someone else.

I’ve never personally given much thought to the idea of getting married. Perhaps some day I will want the opportunity to do so. Regardless of whether I have that intention, no one should be able to deny me that possibility.

Miranda, in her column about Penny and her expectant child, chooses to cite the recent London Riots as evidence of our collapsing morals and the results of a ‘fatherless society’. Such a reference is blatant sensationalism and shows a lack of true understanding into the root of the issue at hand. Shame on Miranda, for drawing such a long bow while arguing her position. Rather than giving weight to her opinions, it muddied her viewpoint, drawing attention to her clearly malevolent bias.

Our society suffers no risk in allowing homosexuals to marry or to become parents.

Allowing people the right to publicly recognise their love for another person can only ever be viewed as a joyous and exciting proposition. Allowing children the opportunity to be brought up in a household committed to providing them with a loving home can also only be a cause for celebration.

Yet again we are mired in the negative spin of those with an outdated moral code.

Gay marriage is not a big deal, and Australian polls show that the majority of our population agree with me. The sooner we recognise that all love is equal, and that marriage does not belong to the religious or ‘traditional’, the sooner we can be proud of our progressive, accepting nation.

Stop making it a big deal, Miranda. Stop trying to drag us down into a moral lockdown, religious zealots. Stop spreading a message of society in a downward spiral, homophobes. Let us move forward as a united, accepting force for beneficial change.

(nb – special thanks to Muzthekid for our chat on the train which led to this particular blogpost)

For a great post on Saturday’s Equal Love rally in Sydney, head over to StMurphy’s blog.