If the most vocal advocates of same-sex marriage believe their own rhetoric then they cannot in good conscience defend the freedom of conscience, speech, and association of dissenters from same-sex marriage.

Instructive was the lacklustre private member’s bill from West Australian Liberal Senator Dean Smith meant to guarantee religious freedom. That bill guaranteed only that ministers of religion and civil celebrants could decline participation in same-sex marriage ceremonies, and that religious institutions would not have to participate in same-sex marriage ceremonies.