Children need both a mother and a Father
Margaret Somerville is Professor of Bioethics in the School of Medicine at the University of Notre Dame Australia . Her most recent book is Bird on an Ethics Wire: Battles about Values in the Culture Wars . It seems that the only issue in relation to same-sex marriage on which politicians can agree is that the debate which would surround a plebiscite must be civilized and mutually respectful. To have any chance of achieving that "tone", we need first to identify what the issues are and where we disagree. Homosexuality is not the issue in the debate. Sexual orientation is not a "life style choice" as some opponents of same-sex marriage argue. Whatever its origins, which is scientifically uncertain, it is an innate way of being and a matter of personal morality, not one attracting public or legal disapproval or disrespect. Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is a grievous wrong and must be prevented. And committed same-sex couples h...