A popular wedding magazine called “White” has announced today that it is closing down. The reason? The Christian publishers had been asked to carry articles featuring same sex weddings, and had politely declined to do so. The backlash on social media led to a number of advertisers withdrawing their custom, and some customers refusing to buy the magazine any more. In this post I want to comment on the legal issues around this incident, and another episode highlighted in the press today. A report in The Australian today notes the close of White magazine, and also the other episode involving someone in the “wedding industry”:

Wilberforce Publications, 2018. In this extremely valuable and superbly researched volume everything you wanted to know about social science research and the issue of homosexual parenting can be found. Research on this topic is relatively new, for the simple reason that having numerous children being raised in same-sex households is relatively new. But for several decades now many folks have sought to claim that children fare just as well in homosexual households as in heterosexual households – maybe even better.

The current marriage wars are so very odd for so many reasons. Until just recently the ideological left was vigorously insisting that marriage is just a piece of paper; that marriage is an oppressive and outdated institution; and that marriage is artificial – a relatively recent social construct. Today however the left in general and the homosexual activists in particular are demanding the right to marriage, claiming it is the most important thing there is. So which is it? Is it just a waste of time or is it a necessity? Of course we know the answer to this already. Marriage has never really been wanted by most homosexuals, and it is only the symbolic effect – plus the power and control that goes with it – that they seek through the redefinition – and thus destruction – of marriage. But all that I have documented in great detail elsewhere. But let me look more closely at just one of the charges thrown around by the marriage attackers – at least up until recently. The claim that marriage and family are relatively recent inventions – often claimed to have originated in the US in the 1950s! – deserves a response.

This week, a young homosexual man was abused for opposing the redefinition of marriage in Australia. Angry Yes campaigners yelled insults and tried to drown out his speech at a rally held to promote that fact that 'It's Ok To Vote No.' This young guy took a very brave stance and should have been commended for swimming against the tide and breaking a stereotype that says all gay people want same-sex 'marriage.' Instead. for his trouble, he was met with ridicule and disrespect from those who claim they celebrate diversity. [click here to read more.] But this gay man is not alone in his desire to maintain the traditional definition of marriage. There are many other homosexuals who, for various reasons, are against same-sex 'marriage'. I don't agree with the reasoning of some of these commentators, but that isn't the point of this article. I simply want to illustrate the fact that there is a false narrative surrounding the Yes campaign - that the desire to redefine marriage is some kind of universally-held doctrine of the gay movement. So now follows a list of 10 prominent gays who don't want marriage equality.

In his essay in the Public Discourse, law professor Bradley Miller suggests studying the effects of redefining marriage using three criteria:

Anyone interested in assessing the impact of same-sex marriage on public life should investigate the outcomes in three spheres: first, human rights (including impacts on freedom of speech, parental rights in public education, and the autonomy of religious institutions); second, further developments in what sorts of relationships political society will be willing to recognize as a marriage (e.g., polygamy); and third, the social practice of marriage.

We're going to take a trip around the world to look at the consequences for Christians where same-sex marriage has been legalised. And it's not only Christians who have suffered after this legislation was passed, but also atheists, agnostics, Jews and even gays themselves. The following list is only 55 of those consequences from 13 of the countries that have redefined marriage. [Note regarding citations: Several consecutive examples have a common source; the link for this is given after the last example.]  

Canada

Canada legalised same-sex marriage in 2002. Now:

• civil celebrants sacked for refusing to perform same-sex weddings
• writing a letter to the editor supporting traditional marriage is now considered hate speech
• professional governing bodies can be sued for discrimination
• for promoting traditional marriage over same sex marriage
• parents have lost authority over their children's education
• religious schools must tolerate groups who promote homosexuality. [Source]

• legal action is underway to secure marriage for polygamists.[Source]
• most cases of bestiality now legal [Source]

• Definitely no evidence of an increase in stability. [Source]
• Children can be removed from heterosexual parents who don't support same-sex marriage [Source]
• pop music, (eg a Dire Straits classic) can be banned for containing words the offend homosexuals [Source]

Britain:

Britain legalised same sex marriage in 2013 via parliamentary vote. Now:

• 'heteronormative' pronouns and words are prohibited in many places,
• churches are under pressure to no longer refuse to perform same-sex marriages (protections were given at the time legislation went through),
• Christians and other parents who oppose same-sex marriage may no longer adopt children,
• seven faith schools are close to being shut down for failing to teach that same-sex marriage is equivalent to traditional marriage
• no opt-out for students in sexualised school lessons, which begin at age 3. (Source)
• Christian relationship counsellors must counsel same-sex couples [Source]
• magistrates unable to opt-out of same-sex adoption cases [Source]
• social media criticism of same-sex marriage can lead to demotion/pay cut [Source]
• criticism of 'Pride' marches potentially constitutes a hate-crime [Source]
• Promoting Easter church services warrants enquiry into homosexual 'offence' [Source]
• Suggesting that homosexuals can change orientation warrants police enquiry [Source]
• Employees can be dismissed for supporting traditional view of marriage [Source]
• Clergy can be fined and sent to re-education for exercising employment rights [Source]
• polygamy is becoming more popular in the UK [Source]

Ireland

Ireland legalised same-sex marriage in 2015 by referendum. Now:

• small businesses can't refuse to service same-sex weddings [Source]
• The door has been opened for recognising polygamous marriages [Source]

Scotland

Scotland legalised same-sex marriage in 2014. Now:

• Christians are persecuted for preaching against homosexuality [Source]
• Clergy who oppose homosexuality committing an unofficial hate-crime [Source]

USA

The Supreme Court of the United States legalised same-sex marriage in 2015. Now:

• florists can't refuse to supply same-sex weddings [Source] 
• Bakers can't refuse their services. [Source]
• employees can be fired for expressing their opposition to same-sex marriage
• lawyers can fail their bar test for not supporting same-sex marriage
• Catholic adoption agencies have closed rather than serve same-sex couples
• parents unable to opt children out of sexualised school classes [Source]
• Calls for polygamy to be made legal [Source]
• Calls for 'machinism' (a relationship between a human and a computer) to be made legal [Source]
• Gay 'pride' events have become more numerous and obscene
• gay domestic violence has increased greatly [Source]

Denmark

Denmark legalised same-sex marriage in 2012. Now:

• Churches are being forced to perform same-sex weddings (protections were initially offered.) [Source]

Belgium

Belgium legalised same sex marriage in 2003. Now:

• Clergy are persecuted for criticising homosexuality [Source]

Sweden

Sweden legalised same-sex marriage in 2009. Now:

• no priest in the Swedish Church can refuse to perform a sane-sex wedding [Source]
• preaching against homosexuality is a hate-crime [Source]
• It is a crime to question the homosexual agenda within the school system [Source]
• Christian groups who investigate the harms of homosexuality are persecuted [Source]

Spain 

Spain legalised same-sex marriage in 2005. Now:

• On birth certificates, 'mother' and 'father' have been replaced by 'progenitor A' or 'B' [Source]
• Clergy are persecuted for criticising homosexuality, IVF for gay couples etc [Source]

Germany

Germany legalised same-sex marriage in 2017. Now:

• the media now links terrorism with 'homophobia' [Source]

Columbia 

Columbia legalised same-sex marriage in 2016. Now:

• There is a push for legal recognition of polygamy [Source]

France

Legalised same sex marriage in 2013. Now:

• criticising same-sex relationships is a hate-crime [Source]

Netherlands

The Netherlands legalised same-sex marriage in 2000. Now:

• Celebrants are forced to perform ceremonies in some areas [Source]
• Same-sex couples have equal rights to adopt [Source]
• Businesses can be forced to provide services that promote homosexuality [Source]
• Persecution of clergy who fail to support homosexuality [Source]
• heterosexual marriage rates fell after same-sex marriage was legalised [Source]

13 Countries, 55 Consequences of Redefining Marriage

The examples above represent only some of the cases of persecution and discrimination that have occurred and are occurring where marriage has been redefined. In addition to these examples, there are reports to suggest that the legalisation of same-sex marriage will have an enormous impact on heterosexuals in other ways, and particularly on men. [Read more here] As Christians, we  know that the push to redefine marriage is part of a broader attack on the family, one with its roots in Marxism. In fact, Marx himself declared war on the family and Christianity, when he said:

Thus, for instance, after the earthly family is discovered to be the secret of the holy family, the former must then itself be destroyed in theory and in practice.

We simply cannot trust Yes campaigners and politicians who tell us that same-sex marriage is 'all about love'. We know full well that redefining marriage is only the tip of the iceberg and that discrimination against marriage traditionalists is certain to ensue. It's not about love, it's all about the consequences. Please vote no.  

In accordance with s 6(5) of the Marriage Law Survey (Additional Safeguards) Act 2017, this communication was authorised by Kathy Clubb of Melbourne, Vic.  

It sometimes seems that the current marriage debate is more about words than about expressing heartfelt opinions and ideas. And it's often about who can shout their words louder than the other side. Unfortunately, many of those words are four-letter ones. And they have nothing to do with the one word at the centre of the controversy: love. For it's more about 'love' than about marriage, if you believe the mouthpieces for the Yes camp. Love wins, choose love, drown out the hate with love - all these make for good hashtags. But beyond the slogan is another reality entirely, and it's more about another four-letter word: hate.  

The pro-homosexual marriage activists keep claiming our side is putting up a lot of red herrings and false diversions about legalising faux marriage. When we say that a vote for homosexual marriage means a vote for radical sex education, including the deplorable safe schools program and the whole transgender agenda, and much more, the other side claims there is no connection whatsoever. But the simple truth is, the pro-homosexual sex ed programs and the like have always been part and parcel of the radical homosexual agenda, including the push for homosexual marriage. That has been crystal clear right from the beginning. One simply has to look at statements made by these radical left groups to see that this is indeed the case. Yet so many in the media, in politics, and sadly even in so many of our churches are all insisting that homosexual marriage will be fine and nothing negative will follow on from this. They are quite clueless here. And sadly too many of these Christians seem to enjoy being armchair critics in all this.  

An essay on one nation's experiment with marriage that demonstrates why voting 'Yes' is a choice  to deconstruct family and marriage and is the road to statism - again. Are you voting ‘yes’ at the upcoming marriage postal plebiscite in support of gay rights and equality? Then please reconsider how your vote at its core is really not about either of these issues. But before going any further, it needs reminding that gay and lesbian civil unions already have the same legal recognition, protections and tax treatment that every other family possesses, so what is this plebiscite really all about?  

Pop, Da, Daddy, Father, the Ol' Man, yes, we have had a special day, once a year for him for a while now.  We celebrated  him.  For Generations it was Mum and Dad: both had their special days. Once upon a time we all had one of each to call our own but now Fathers are on the nose in 'official' circles. There are special 'family courts' full of weasels to throw him to the curb. Passports and Birth Certificates avoid mentioning his status as a Dad, preferring 'Parent B'. Even mums are losing out - Parent A.