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This Week: 20 Years, Happily Unmarried

April 27, 2013 in Fashion, Marriage, Relationships, Wedding

This week my partner R and I celebrated 20 years of being happily unmarried. Anniversaries for the unmarried are always difficult to define. R and I have actually known each other for 21 years, so our “anniversary” is an arbitrary date. For us, it’s the 25th April 1993. That’s the day we went on our first “date”. That was the day we stopped being two people who worked in the same office and took our first steps towards becoming “a couple”. It’s also an easy date to remember, being ANZAC Day and all… There are other anniversaries of course – the day we first [...]

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Abortion: I’m Pro-Choice And Pro-Life

February 11, 2013 in Current Affairs, Gender, Health, Human Rights, Lifestyle, Parenting, People, Pregnancy & Birth, Religion, Self, Sexuality, Society

I’m glad to see that there’s been some new discussions around the antiquated abortion laws in New South Wales and Queensland – about time! Whenever I see articles about abortion, it always makes me wonder what I would do if a sexual partner of mine became pregnant. Given my age, sex, and relationship status (middle-aged, male, and in a 20 year committed relationship) it’s unlikely that I will ever be confronted with this situation. But when people ask me if I am pro-choice or pro-life, I always reply “both”. “How can that be?” they will ask. Well, it all depends [...]

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Genetic Testing: Sensible or Playing God?

August 23, 2012 in Current Affairs, Health, News, Parenting, Pregnancy & Birth

Genetic testing seems to be a taboo topic that no one really discusses and with good reason, like religion, parenting or politics, you can never be sure that you won’t be offending someone by your views. For couples trying to conceive through IVF who have a history of genetic defects, I completely understand that genetic testing is a must. For others, not so much. But recently, a medical ethicist has thrown a spanner in the works when he came out and said genetic testing is a moral obligation for parents. From The Verge: Oxford medical ethicist Julian Savulescu has called screening out [...]

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Pregnant Teen Dies After Abortion Ban Delays Treatment

August 20, 2012 in Current Affairs, Health, Human Rights, News, Politics, Pregnancy & Birth

A pregnant 16-year-old in the Dominican Republic has died after being unable to receive chemotherapy due to an abortion ban. Doctors refused treatment for the teen’s leukaemia as the treatment could end the pregnancy, placing the life saving treatment in violation of the Domincan Constitution, which bans abortion. The doctors talked for several days fearing imprisonment and the loss of their medical licenses if administering the life saving treatment resulted in the death of the baby. At the time of her death, the girl, whose name has not been released, was 13 weeks pregnant and was admitted to hospital with [...]

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What Ever Happened to Kids TV?

June 26, 2012 in Books, Children, Entertainment, Film & TV, Parenting

I need help. Over the last few days I have been subjected to the kind of rubbish TV that kids are provided these days. Baby voices putting W’s where they shouldn’t be, beads of sweat on foreheads and open mouthed questions of “Huh?” while making a facial expression that would make even Einstein look like an idiot. And if I have to hear one more bratty child speaking back to their parent with an “Ugh, they just don’t understand anything” tone I am going to stab someone with the remote. What happened to all the shows that actually teach children about [...]

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Civil Unions to be Amended, Not Repealed

June 12, 2012 in Current Affairs, Gender, Health, Human Rights, News, People, Politics, Religion, Sexuality, Society

QLD Civil Unions are to be amended to come into line with the rest of the states as of this afternoon. The change will mean that same-sex couples will still be able to register their union, however will no longer be able to have a state-sanctioned ceremony. Couples will be able to participate in a private ceremony, should they wish. A report by brisbanetimes.com.au states: Premier Campbell Newman says Queensland’s same-sex civil unions laws will not be completely repealed, but will be amended to bring the legislation into line with other states. Under the proposed changes, same-sex couples would still [...]

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Get Happy (A tribute to Judy Garland)

April 23, 2012 in Body Image, Celebrity, Entertainment, Film & TV, Mental Health, Music

It’s no secret that I love Judy Garland. In my opinion, Judy Garland was the most beautiful woman who ever lived. I have loved Judy ever since I was a little girl, when I desperately wanted to look like her, to sing like her, to be her. A few years ago I bought the Judy Garland biography Get Happy. The best thing about Get Happy is that it is based on tapes and documents Judy recorded & wrote for her own autobiography, that was never finished. I haven’t finished it yet, it was so incredibly heartbreaking to read. Judy only [...]

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Abortion, Marriage, Religion and the Law

March 4, 2012 in Marriage, Politics, Religion, Sexuality

Update 10/05/12: Obama has announced his support for marriage equality. I am overjoyed, but not surprised, by this announcement, and here’s why.  I was recently sent a video of a speech made by Barack Obama relating to the separation of church and state, his stance on abortion, and what that means. In part, Obama stated: “Democracy demands that the religiously motivated translate their concerns into universal, rather than religion-specific, values. It requires that their proposals be subject to argument, and amenable to reason. I may be opposed to abortion for religious reasons, but if I seek to pass a law banning [...]

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