"Colin Stewart, editor of this blog" is patient, diplomatic and well argued in his comment replies to many of the God squad who swarmed.
PS: Australia, though behind some of your states who have okiedokie same sex marriage on balance rates well, though there is one extreme stain i'd forgotten ..
All states and territories of Australia (except for Queensland), have age of consent legislation that applies equally regardless whether the participants are male or female, same-sex or opposite-sex. All states, territories and on the federal level are at the age of 16, except for Tasmania and South Australia, where it is 17. Queensland's age of consent is 16, however it still has a "sodomy law" in their statutes dating back to 1990, punishing anal sex involving any person under 18 with up to 14 years in prison. .. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Australia#Age_of_consent