DREADPUBLISHING: John Heard In 'The Herald Sun' Gays Don't Want Marriage

[UPDATE] New figures from Massachusetts show steep decline in "gay marriage" participation:

"...Massachusetts’s experience may offer hints of what is to come. For example, after an initial euphoric rush to the altar, the number of gay weddings here fell sharply and has declined each year since. Of the more than 10,500 same-sex couples married here since May 17, 2004, 6,121 wed in the first six months. There were 2,060 weddings in 2005; 1,442 in 2006; and 867 in the first eight months of 2007, the most recent data show."

Further, revealing information, in line with DREADNOUGHT's claims:

"Nearly two-thirds of the weddings have been lesbian marriages, including one between two women named Melissa McCarthy. And while nearly half of straight people marrying are under 30, more same-sex married couples of both sexes are older — nearly a third are in their 40s."

And then this sad news:

"... some couples find few significant advantages... [and] some [formerly lauded] same-sex spouses have split up, including Julie and Hillary Goodridge, the lead plaintiffs in the case that paved the way for same-sex marriage in the state."

What a silly, painful mess.

[UPDATE] Another article on DREADNOUGHT's Herald Sun piece on community attitudes to 'gay marriage'; this time on a 'gay' dating, and news site.#

NB DREADNOUGHT's first article in the national press was actually a pro-Brokeback Mountain opinion piece, and the second was a piece decrying homophobia. DREADNOUGHT's previously published writings on transsexualism are also available online. Some of the quotes attributed to me in inverted commas are not, indeed, things that DREADNOUGHT has said, or written (or would write). All of these facts are readily discoverable on DREADNOUGHT, and DREADNOUGHT happily answers all email requests for further information.

[UPDATE] DREADNOUGHT's article widely discussed; some particularly hopeful examples:

- New Matilda (a broadly left-wing publication) published a loose reply piece by the same writer who wrote to DREADNOUGHT for clarification (Note: he also wrote the opinion piece directly above). While it is a shame to see the same few names defend 'gay marriage' over, and over again, DREADNOUGHT has been invited by the editor to write a follow-up piece.

- DREADNOUGHT was invited to discuss the piece again, as a special guest on (satellite, and FM) 'GLBTI' radio;

- DNA Magazine (a leading 'gay lifestyle' publication, available on three continents) ran a balanced news piece, and launched two related reader polls (88% of respondents said that "marriage is not for me");*

- Gay New Zealand featured the story, and their writer offered that: "Personally, I’m indifferent to same-sex marriage..."which is a sentiment central to DREADNOUGHT's article, and - I submit - overwhelmingly characteristic of the wider community; and

- The Anglican Mainstream (apparently dedicated to healing that organisation's rifts over sex, and morality) re-posted the article in full.^

[UPDATE] DREADNOUGHT's Herald Sun article ranks as the most talked about opinion editorial of the day. Thank you, and welcome new DREADNOUGHTERS.

[UPDATE] DREADNOUGHT appeared on The Spin program on JoyFM. The program went to air live, and attracted an apparently unprecedented amount of listener feedback / interest. There was also an online stream. Details below.

[UPDATE] DREADNOUGHT's article added as a top story on New.com.au.

[UPDATE] At last, ordinary same-sex attracted individuals are having a say, and readers everywhere have been incredibly supportive. Thank you. In a measure of how dogged / disingenuous the opposition is, however, the readers' comments sections (and other fora) were flamed by readily identifiable pro-'gay marriage' homoactivists. Apparently, the same types spam online polls, and collect together to write letters to the editor, slandering / vilifying those with an alternative viewpoint, and producing a false sense of grassroots support. That nonsense is at an end.

:: Update ::

DREADNOUGHT's op-ed on community attitudes to 'gay marriage' was published today in the Herald Sun newspaper.

:: The Upshot ::

The Herald Sun has the nation's highest daily circulation, and a readership of 1.5 million. Buy the paper.

:: Resources ::

- DREADNOUGHT's previous opinion pieces on 'gay marriage' from The Australian newspaper, and DNA Magazine;

- DREADNOUGHT on 'gay marriage' on the SBS Television Insight Program; and

- Private Lives Report (March, 2006).

# (The article essentially re-iterates, if not performs the points in the original article, and the findings of the Private Lives report. DREADNOUGHTERS can compare DREADNOUGHT's actual responses, and sample the writer's views on World Youth Day, the Bible, and the Catholic Church. The comments on the site are quite revealing).

* (The polls are, of course, unscientific and skewed because of the magazine's target audience - one recent item was on the 'best of gay porn'. However, and as claimed in the Herald Sun article, the item re-iterated that the actual numbers of same sex attracted men, and women, who have formalised their relationships is of the order of just 5 - 10%, and the figures for those who intend to do so in the future are incredibly low. This mirrors data from Massachusetts, New Zealand, Spain, and Canada which show very low levels of 'gay marriage', and civil union uptake. NB the editors apparently mis-inunderstood their own polls, and misunderstood (?) DREADNOUGHT's claims. DREADNOUGHT has written in the past on the use of unscientific straw poll findings to claim widespread support for "gay marriage").

^ (The site also re-posted DREADNOUGHT's column on a 'gay gene').