George Orwell’s mordant satire of politics and bureaucratic doublespeak famously featured the slogan that “all animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others”. Watching the brouhaha about the Doctors for the Family submission to the Senate Inquiry into legal recognition of same-sex relationships (aka gay marriage), it’s difficult not to wonder whether all Australians are equal, but people with medical degrees and godfearing straight married people are more equal than others.

The short, emotive and – in my opinion – academically problematic submission was made by 150 medical practitioners and academics, including Professor Kuruvilla George.

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Related news & commentary:
Media release: Advocates encouraged by Hockey’s admission on same-sex parenting
Same-sex families hit back at doctors’ claims
Headspace blog: Doctors breaching their duty of care
3AW: Risk gay marriage would ‘increase homosexuality’, say Doctors for the Family
Factbox: Who are Doctors for the Family? (ABC News)
Victoria: Equal opportunity commissioner opposes same-sex marriage
Vagg: Ersatz science does not help inform debate about social policy
Castan Centre: ‘Doctors for the Family’ ill-informed on same-sex marriage
Rodney Croome: Love makes a family
Gay unions a ‘risk to kids’, say Doctors for the Family