Well, I believe that any two (apologies to those who are polygamous) adult people should be able to make a commitment that is recognised as legitimate regardless of their religious faith or their society. We each have a gender determined by chromosomes but I also believe that we are androgynous at the highest level, and have within us both masculine and feminine energies.

Many years ago I lived in a house that had a laneway behind it and fronted onto a main road close to the local shopping centre. At the far end of the laneway to my house was a "half-way" house for transgender people. They knew that they were welcome to take a shortcut to the shops by walking through my house. I believe in focussing on our common humanity, and I always enjoyed having these amazing people in my home.

At that time, I had young children and I am proud to say that they have become adults who are very outspoken about human rights and are also tolerant and accepting. They all also attended Sydney's gay mardi-gras from an early age.

Its about treating people with respect. Nobody makes a conscious decision to be different just for the sake of it. What defines our sexuality is affected by many factors, including biological ones that we have absolutely no control over. What is "normal" anyway? What I don't agree with is discrimination on the basis of gender or sexual preference, and sexually based abuse and violence. I would like to know what the comparative rates of sexual violence are between the "normal" and homosexual populations...