Gay couple against same-sex marriage in Australia cop backlash

Gay couple against same-sex marriage in Australia cop backlash
Image: Image: ABC 7.30 Report.

A gay couple from Wollongong in NSW have said they plan to vote “no” in the government’s proposed postal survey, in an interview on ABC’s 7.30 Report.

Ben Rogers and Mark Poidevin, who met 15 years ago on Gay.com have said they support preserving the ‘traditional’ definition of marriage.

“If we make one exception for one community, that being same-sex couples, where does it stop?” Poidevin said.

Despite being against same-sex marriage now, devout Catholic Poidevin said he proposed to Rogers years ago.

“At the time Ben said it wasn’t for him, that he didn’t believe in it, and I said ‘when the laws change would you like to?” he said.

Rogers responded by saying he thought same-sex couples shouldn’t get married, and now, even if same-sex marriage is legalised in Australia, the pair won’t be walking down the aisle.

Social media users took to Twitter to criticise the pair.

“I feel sorry for people who can’t distinguish between legal equality and wanting to get married,” Senthorun Raj tweeted.

“Congrats on being a really helpful addition to the debate,” Dan Hatch tweeted.

“These idiots… ‘we don’t need it so screw anyone who you know, might want/need equal legal rights,” Mark Churches also tweeted.

The outcome of the High Court challenges posed to the postal survey will be decided over the next two days, determining whether the survey will go ahead or not. Stay tuned.

https://twitter.com/Daniel_Hatch/status/904701201392037888?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailytelegraph.com.au%2Fentertainment%2Ftelevision%2Fthe-gay-couple-who-oppose-samesex-marriage%2Fnews-story%2Fadda8dc79124def7a400b46101ddf448

You May Also Like

9 responses to “Gay couple against same-sex marriage in Australia cop backlash”

  1. Just because these two men would not be bothered to get married is not a sufficient reason to vote “No”. What they don’t seem to get is that this is not about Marriage per se BUT it is ALL about EQUALITY.
    OK, so the idea of Polygamy or Polyamory is abhorrent to probably most people BUT that is No reason to deny them the same Rights & (doubtful) Privileges which are enjoyed by Heterosexual Couples.
    It is doubtful that there are many heterosexual who would want either.
    These two do have the Right to vote “No” but maybe they should think about those, possibly few, Same Gender couples who would like to take that, to me, absurd step.
    Given the Division of State and Religion I can see no reason to suspect that Religious Businesses (They are ALL Business Organisations – with the Roman Catholics and Anglicans business organisations amongst the Most Wealthiest Business Organisations in the World) would be forced to conduct Same Gender Marriages if they did not want to. Though given the huge amounts of Money they would all make if the Same Gender Community followed the Mixed Gender Community and spent/wasted all those tens of thousands on this farce, those religious Businesses would very smartly come to the party!.
    In some ways I hope the survey fails because we have already been told that the Government will allow Private Member’s Bills to be brought on and on those our elected representatives – they are supposed to be running the country on our behalf though it seems like they do it for themselves – would be required to vote and if as so many have indicated they will vote Yes we will have Marriage Equality by the end of the year.

  2. This is really sad! For gay men to support disequality. Marriage equality entail in it equal treatment in matters that are far more important than just being married.

    A NO vote on this matter simply means that Australia is not a free and democratic nation. The moment discrimination is insitutionalised, the nation loses its credibility as a free, equal democratic nation- this surpasses any religious belief. Frankly, this issue only affect 2 people who decide to get married or not; it’s not going to lead to an influx of LGBT members in society, it’s not going to destroy marriage between opposite sex and does not mean that every same sex couple must marry going forward, it merely allows those who want to do so to simply do it. I believe in marriage, my partner does not yet he is voting YES, because he understands that his personal belief is his own porogative and it shall not affect those who believe in marriage as a concept. And this is the right thing to do. It is sad when gay people actually choose to harm our community simply because they don’t believe in marriage or for some crazy reason, sadly, they believe that they don’t believe to have the right to be equal!

  3. I am going to call bullshit. Are these guys serious? I would like to know how much they were paid to say all that drivel.

    Even if my wife and I didn’t want to get married, I would still vote yes as this is really all about TRUE equality. These guys are just trotting out the same crap that was trotted out last time the churches got their panties in a bunch over interracial marriage. It’s all the same bullshit.

  4. These boys belong to Anti Islamic groups such as halal choices. they are putting their hate for Muslims above they equality of their own community. Says more about the than anything else.

  5. These 2 are a plant from ‘Australian Liberty Alliance Party’ NSW senate candidate Kirralie Smith Cori Bernadi Party She posted on Facebook that they are old friends!!
    Just a quick word of encouragement to those of you who feel you are not making a difference or that your voice is not being heard.
    I have known Ben and Mark since the early days of Halal Choices. We have messaged each other and met up at events in Sydney and Wollongong over the past few years.
    They have always been consistent and open with me and I respect them greatly. Last week Mark spoke to Wave FM about their decision to vote no in the postal plebiscite. This interview was not available online at the time. Mark sent me a copy and I shared it via YouTube.
    Thanks to you and many like you who ‘liked’, ‘shared’ and ‘commented’ on that post. It got the attention of the ABC 7.30 Report and they did a great interview with Ben and Mark last night.
    These two men showed great courage and integrity to put their views out there. They have copped some backlash, as they knew they would, but also a lot of encouragement. Thanks to them for sharing their story and thanks to you for spreading the word, it has now gone viral. Almost every news outlet has picked it up.
    I am getting private messages from people who feel so relieved and thankful these two men have spoken out and given voice to gays who will vote no in Australia.
    Please don’t underestimate the power of your voice, the power of a like, share or comment on a post that resonates with you. It does get the attention of the main stream media (who are often playing catch up) and it does encourage the silent majority and those who feel disenfranchised.
    Well done Ben and Mark!
    Well done to all of you who are engaged in the debate.
    http://www.abc.net.au/…/the-gay-couple-who-oppose-s…/8871118

    Just like the First No Add Lies and B…t

  6. How sad that “two of our own” obviously can’t even see how wrong they are and have given a lovely big free kick to all the bigots and homophobes in town.
    If they had said they thought it was too much of a change to gay culture that meant they couldn’t approve of it, I could understand it a little more…but to describe us as “just another section of the community and where will it stop?” is so damning to us all and the history of how far we have had to struggle to come to this point, is ignorant to the point of being very sad. Clearly they themselves are so indoctrinated they have bought the idea long ago that we are second class citizens and nothing much more… we should just accept it!
    Sorry guys – thanks for nothing!

  7. Guess they were prepared for the backlash or the reactions from communities before they decided to be in this interview – what does this mean? Does this lead to many possibilities behind their “yes to the interview”?

    Some ppl might argue that everyone (as a citizen) has their rights and/or a choice either agree or disagree despite background/sexual orientation. But, saying this nationally and suggesting “other gays shouldnt get married” at this time during vote period DOES NOT seem to be a clever thing to do. Well, congrat them for having their face-the-reaction “dream” come true and lets see what they were prepared to experience from nationwide, this may turn out to be a good lesson in their lives which we never know – you can think in whatever way you want, but be responsible for what is said depending on the context and the timing. At least, they are not young children or in special condition of needing spokesperson ?
    and if yes, they should be able to predict the consequences caused. Good luck to these guys!!

  8. Seriously, this is a case in point – “we are the sum total of our life experiences” – Rodgers and Poidevin are unfortunately providing an uneducated view which, yet again, our media – disappointingly our ABC – love to latch onto. The NO vote group are desperately trying to divert attention from the main question and Rodgers and Poidevin for reasons I can only assume as not being educated on the subject, make completely misinformed comment. Having a view on the main issue is one thing, but to then set yourself up on national media to make comment is quite another. Mr Rodgers and Mr Poidevin, next time do some research and educate yourself on the main question and be informed, then set yourselves up as commentators with your dogs as props. Your ignorance on the issue is breathtaking if not quite offense. “Where will it end?” Indeed, that’s commentary not a viewpoint. Educate yourselves !!

  9. Well everyone is going to have their views but “where will it end?” is NOT A FUCKING REASON TO VOTE NO to same sex marriage.

    Here are the actual facts. Humans have entered marriage-like relationships since prehistoric times, predating religion and civilisation. Over time those relationships have changed as society has evolved. Religion has co-opted marriage (also birth, death, seasonal festivals and the afterlife). Marriage in the past has been about polygamy, it has included concubines, it has been about owning a spouse like any other bit of property, it has been about inheritance and dowry, and in recent times it has been modernised so that it’s about love and included provisions for divorce when love ends.

    So idiots like the guys in the article don’t look at how marriage has evolved in all sorts of directions over the last 10,000 years, They look at one tiny change, affecting only a couple of percent of the community directly, and shriek WHERE WILL IT END????? YOU CAN’T CHANGE MARRIAGE!!! IT’S BEEN THE SAME FOREVER!!!! Pathetic.

    Learn some human history before commenting in the national media, else you’re just proving you’re too stupid to be taken seriously.