Now I'm 32 and I feel so blessed to have had my eyes opened to the world of love, desire and attraction by my first same-sex kiss 13 years ago. Yet there's still something wrong with me - the government says so - as I can't get married. Julia Gillard has suggested Labor members will be allowed a conscience vote on the issue. This is not enough. I echo Senator Gavin Marshall in saying I expect a democratic government to reflect the wishes of the people, not just personal views of elected members.

Marriage is a rite of passage. Within the past six months, my younger sister has become engaged, my housemate's sister has become engaged, at least three work colleagues have been married and several more routinely discuss the details of their upcoming nuptials during their coffee break. These moments are bitter-sweet for me - I am able to participate in the discussion and share in the excitement while knowing it is not legal for me to have the same experience in this country, which I have loved my whole life. A woman's wedding day is said to be the best day of her life, yet this experience and joy are denied to me on the basis that I happen to be attracted to women.

I hear all kinds of things that are supposed to make me feel better, like the fact that lots of straight people choose not to get married. So what? At least they have a choice.

I grew up, much like every other girl in Western society, wanting to get married. I don't care about the opinions of straight people on the subject of same-sex marriage - straight people don't have a voice in this debate. Imagine how outraged straight people would feel if that last sentence was how I actually felt; if they were forbidden to have an opinion on same-sex-attracted marriage.

Nurses make lousy parents. So do teachers and police. I believe that their children grow up to be psychologically damaged because their parents do shift work and either have to deal with children all day at work or see some very upsetting, horrible situations as part of their daily work. Oh, I'm sorry, do I need to back up those statements with facts or evidence? No one else seems to need to justify their opinions on gay parenting and its effects on children.