“Opposing the idea of gay marriage does not make a person a homophobe”, says Angela Shanahan (“Cheap emotionalism stymies debate”, The Australian, 24/7). Let’s exchange the word “gay” for “interracial”, and “homophobe” for “racist” – as others have done in the past – and see if that sentence still makes sense.

Shanahan’s arguments from “common sense”, “nature” and “fundamental and bedrock values” are the same meaningless generalities used by opponents of marriage between couples of different races, and indeed religions, to justify their prejudice.

We live in a democracy, so Shanahan is entitled to her religious beliefs; but we don’t live in a theocracy, so they have no place in law.