Marriage Equality: Vote Yes!

The Australian government is currently conducting a postal survey on marriage equality.

I will be voting YES.

Same sex attraction is not rare. Although it is experienced by a minority of the population it is a significant minority.

People who have experienced same sex attraction are at higher risk of psychosocial distress, with people who have not acted on their desires at greatest risk. This suggests that the distress is caused by homophobia and biphobia. This means that any actions we can take as a society to reduce the stigma associated with same sex attraction will improve psychological health in a significant minority of the population. 

Same sex attraction is part of the diversity, the rich variability of humanity.

Same sex attraction is part of the infinite and beautiful diversity of human relationships.

It speaks to the awesome and resilient human capacity to love.

I am voting YES 

Yes to diversity 

Yes to acceptance 

Yes to love

Apply it in your life: C’mon Aussies, let’s make this a victory for the yes campaign.

Note: Same sex attraction or experience is reported by approximately 9% of Australian men and 15-19% of Australian women on a survey of adults. Not everyone who reports same sex attraction or experience on a survey also identifies as gay or bisexual. In fact, the majority do not. Persistent homophobia and biphobia is likely part of the reason why reported experiences of attraction and reported identity do not match. Given this, reported experiences of same sex attraction are likely to be an underestimate, particularly for Australian men. Certainly, we can say that same sex attraction is not rare.

References

Smith, A.M.A, Rissel, C.E., Richters, J., Grulich, A.E. & Visser, R.O. (2003) Sex in Australia: sexual identity, sexual attraction and sexual experience among a representative sample of adults. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 27 (2), 138-145.

Richters, J., Altman, D., Badcock, P.B., Smith, A.M.A., Visser, R.O., Grulich, A.E., Rissel, C. & Simpson, J.M. (2014) Sexual identity, sexual attraction and sexual experience: the Second Australian Study of Health and Relationships, Sexual Health, 11 (5), 451-460.