""but I know hundreds of ordinary couples who believe that traditional marriage is a contract between a man and a woman, blessed by god, to spend their lives together and bring up their children as good citizens.
They feel they are being used as pawns in a cynical political charade.""

So, Ake, it's not just Homosexuals you want to disenfranchise, but Mormons, Hindus, and Muslims as well.

The Hindus and Muslims both have a TRADITION of polygamy, whereby marriage is a contact between a man and several women. This tradition goes back, in the case of Muslims, nearly as far as yours, and in the case of Hindus, even possibly further.

The ancient Egyptians had a tradition of rule by a brother/sister pair united in marriage.

There have been multiple cultures practising polyandry, whih predate, in many cases, the Christians.

The Christian tradition of one man/one woman marriage is a man made convention, and as such has seen many changes over the centuries, according to the moral codes of various ethnic cultures.

In view of the above, you will I'm sure, excuse me if I say that your argument on the basis of keeping traditional values is weak, maybe even specious.

As to your oft repeated claims that Homosexuals are responsible for the existence of aids, and form the majotrity of carriers I can only say:-

ASOLUTE BLOODY NONSENSE.

Don T.