Individual
The lack of opportunity for same-sex couples to formalise their relationships, as do different-sex couples, sends the message that their relationships are not of equivalent standard and that they are second class citizens. As same-sex sexuality is no more a choice than heterosexuality, restricting marriage to different-sex couples will not stop committed relationships between members of the same sex. What it will do is continue to promote prejudice and intolerance towards a select group of individuals who nonetheless pay the same taxes, fight the same wars, and abide by all other citizenry responsibilities as an Australian.