The slippery slope to homophobia

If there is a slippery slope to multiple-partner and incestuous relationships then, to be facetious again, it is the heterosexuals we have to blame.

Almost all polygamous and polyamorous relationships are, or begin as, heterosexual couplings.

The point is underlined by Australia’s highest profile example of a polygamous relationship – a Perth man who wants to keep his wife and marry her twin as well.

This unusual arrangement flows “logically” out of a heterosexual marriage not a gay one.

What we are seeing here is just the kind of fear campaign that has always accompanied the removal of discrimination against gay Australians. 

Opponents of decriminalising homosexuality, anti-discrimination laws and gay parenting loudly predicted society would collapse.

They were wrong then and they’re wrong now.

But still, opponents of same-sex marriage are going all out to beat up fears about the slippery slope. 

In recent weeks we’ve seen them evolve from simply declaring same-sex marriage will lead to polygamy and polyamory, to trying to wedge the Greens and same-sex marriage advocates on the issue.

If we agree that “equality” means equality for all relationships, we’re damned for allowing polygamy and polyamory.  If we disavow polygamy and polyamory, we’re damned for not sticking to our principle of “equality”.

As far as wedges go this one is pretty weak.

It shows a profound misunderstanding of what marriage is and contempt for the common sense of the majority of ordinary Australians who support same-sex marriage but not multiple-partner relationships.