Gay couple Ben Rogers and Mark Poldevin made an appearance on a news show in Australia to voice their anti same-sex marriage opinions.

The couple, who met fifteen years ago, declared that they would not want to spend their lives with anyone else.

I used to be a supporter of same-sex marriage

However, despite their commitment to one another, they are staunchly opposed to legalising same-sex marriage in Australia.

“I used to be a supporter of same-sex marriage. I mean, I proposed to Ben five years ago,” Poldevin said.

After the proposal, Poldevin was dissuaded by his partner.

“I just explained to him, I said I don’t think it’s my cup of tea,” said Rogers on the subject before disclosing that getting married and having children was something he believed he had given up when he came out.

“It’s not something I had ever envisioned.”

What Next?

While Poldevin, a dedicated Catholic, may have retired his ambition to wed his partner in favour of protecting traditional marriage, he is now extrapolating that legalising same-sex marriage would lead to an avalanche of unwelcome change.

If we make one exception for one community, that being the same-sex couples, where does it stop?

“If we make one exception for one community, that being the same-sex couples, where does it stop,” he asked.

“Do we then see other cultures being allowed to have multiple marriages? Do we see the age of consent being lowered for another group of minorities? That is my concern, of where it would lead.”

Nasty Campaign

Poldevin has freely expressed his opinion about same-sex marriage on local radio shows but feels that the campaign has gotten out of control.

“The campaign’s gotten nasty on both sides and I think the comments that I hear are, ‘You’re a homophobe if you don’t support gay marriage’,” said Poldevin.

“I’m a gay person here that’s coming out and saying, ‘Well, no it’s not. It’s your right to have a view, your right to have a view either way and people should be respected’.

“You’re not intolerant if you don’t support a view,” he said.

“This could be the Brexit or Trump moment for Australia.”

“The polls are saying one thing but you go to the ballot box and people are clearly in another mind [and] going to vote another way.”

Some Yes Equality campaigners in Ireland warned that a public vote on same-sex marriage in Australia could have negative effects on the mental health of LGBT+ people, as it did in Ireland.

The no campaign tactics in Australia have ranged from conflating same-sex marriage legislation with issues around education to downright offensive posters.