Marriage affects health

In recent times our Members of Parliament have seen fit to discriminate against smokers because of our overburdened health system. Although there is no discrimination in Australian law against homosexual couples, the enthusiasts for same sex marriage have failed to see the resultant health costs.
Marriage has existed long before any of our governments, and their legislative whims. As traditional marriage has been shown to increase longevity, it clearly has health benefits that should interest MPs.
A family unit where a child experiences the love of both its biological parents has obvious benefits for our national future as well as the child’s mental health.
Denmark has the longest history of same-sex marriage and the results are alarming. While married heterosexual men died at a median age of 74, partnered gays’ average age of mortality was 51. For women, married lesbians averaged 56, whereas married heterosexual women achieved 78 years. These statistics exclude AIDS related deaths.
The health problems resulting from same sex marriage wipe more than two decades from life expectancy, three times that of smokers. We have penalised smokers because of the pressure their personal choice places on our overtaxed health system. Does our health system need the additional strain of Gay Marriage?

John Martin
Mullaley