http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2109128,00.html 

I'm back. Typing in 6 yr old language on a dayum phone was killing me! 

Blah blah pregnant women are beautiful blah blah...I am 100% certain that she could've worn something more flattering and comfortable than this dress.  Her body looks like it's trying to eat her head (to paraphrase someone on ML).

Also, she apparently plans to name her daughter Maxwell.  "Is this a girl's name what I'm naming her, or is it a boy's name?"

By Guest Blogger on Mar 15, 2012 at 12:00 pmAcross the nation, lawmakers are debating several different anti-abortion bills seeking to make it more difficult for women to have an abortion. One tactic is ?informed consent? measures that require women to be given information before an abortion ? even if they do not want that information or getting it would violate medical guidelines.

Now, the New Hampshire House has passed a bill that, along with mandating a 24-hour waiting period, requires doctors to give women ?informational materials? before an abortion that aren?t even accurate, including that there is a link between abortion and breast cancer. Here?s the text of the bill:

It is scientifically undisputed that full-term pregnancy reduces a woman?s lifetime risk of breast cancer. It is also undisputed that the earlier a woman has a first full-term pregnancy, the lower her risk of breast cancer becomes, because following a full-term pregnancy the breast tissue exposed to estrogen through the menstrual cycle is more mature and cancer resistant.

In fact, for each year that a woman?s first full-term pregnancy is delayed, her risk of breast cancer rises 3.5 percent. The theory that there is a direct link between abortion and breast cancer builds upon this undisputed foundation.

The problem is that a direct link between abortion and breast cancer is not only disputed, it has also been rejected by multiple health organizations. The National Institutes of Health, American Cancer Society, and the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists are a few of the groups who say no such link has been scientifically proven. Even the Susan G. Komen Foundation denies there is a link.

That has not stopped Republicans, including presidential candidate Rick Santorum, from peddling this theory. Nor is New Hampshire the first state where such a bill has been proposed ? Kansas and Oklahoma have both considered legislation with similar provisions. But it is hard to understand how a bill can protect women?s health when it gives them incorrect information.

-Zachary Bernstein

http://thinkprogress.org/health/2012/03/15/444995/new-hampshire-house-bill-falsely-claims-abortion-causes-breast-cancer/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/20/chuck-winder-rape-abortions_n_1366994.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000009&ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false

Chuck Winder, Idaho Lawmaker, Suggests Women Use Rape As Excuse For Abortions

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The sponsor of an Idaho mandatory ultrasound bill, state Sen. Chuck Winder, made some highly controversial comments Monday during his closing arguments, suggesting women might falsely use rape as an excuse to obtain an abortion.

Just before the Idaho's Senate passed the bill, which requires woman to have an ultrasound prior to obtaining an abortion, opponents of the bill pointed out that it makes no exception for rape victims, incest victims or women in medical emergencies.

Winder, a Republican from Boise, responded to those concerns by raising the question of whether women understand when they have been raped.

?Rape and incest was used as a reason to oppose this," Winder said on the Senate floor. "I would hope that when a woman goes in to a physician with a rape issue, that physician will indeed ask her about perhaps her marriage, was this pregnancy caused by normal relations in a marriage or was it truly caused by a rape. I assume that's part of the counseling that goes on.?

Women reported 84,767 "forcible rapes" in the United States in 2010, according to the FBI's most recent Uniform Crime Report; the figure does not include statutory rape, incest or any other kind of rape that falls outside the FBI's narrow definition of the crime.

If Winder's mandatory ultrasound bill becomes law, a victim of rape or incest or a woman with a medical emergency who is seeking an abortion must obtain an ultrasound first and the state will provide a list of providers. Nearly every provider of free ultrasounds in Idaho is a "crisis pregnancy center," which aims to dissuade women from having an abortion. The woman would also have to obtain from a doctor a second ultrasound, which would involve an invasive transvaginal procedure if she is in her first trimester of pregnancy. Even if she averts her eyes from the ultrasound image and refuses to listen to the fetal heartbeat, she would have to hear the doctor describe the fetus in detail.

Proponents of the bill describe it as one more way to protect "unborn children," with the assumption that the ultrasound procedure and anti-abortion counseling might sway women against having an abortion. Opponents argue that it forces doctors to perform medically unnecessary procedures and contributes to the emotional anguish of women who have already made a very difficult decision.

One woman wrote last week about her painful experience with Texas' new mandatory ultrasound law in the Texas Observer, in which she had to listen to a doctor describe the gravely ill fetus that she had sought to abort to protect her own health.

The state Senate voted 23 to 12 to pass the controversial ultrasound bill on Monday, with all seven Democrats and five Republicans against it. The Republican-controlled House is also expected to pass the measure.

?Fellow senators, as a woman and as a person of faith, this bill makes me want to cry," said state Sen. Diane Bilyeu, a Democrat. "I want an end to abortion as well as all of you do, and I am totally opposed to abortion except in the case of rape, incest or the life of the mother. But I find this bill to be intrusive into my faith, and it is punitive as a woman.? 

http://notyourmommascookie.com/2012/03/mad-men-sugar-cookie/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+NotYourMommasCookie+%28Not+Your+Momma%27s+Cookie%29

http://youtu.be/bGxBnfeJI84

humina humina.

http://consumerist.com/2012/03/wendys-unseats-the-burger-king-in-fast-food-rankings.html

Wendy's Unseats The Burger King In Fast Food Rankings

(kc2gvx)

Both Burger King and Wendy's have been attempting to revamp their look and their menus in recent years, but it looks like whatever Wendy's is doing is working slightly better as the fast food company edged out Burger King to become the second-largest burger chain ? and the #3 overall fast food joint ? in the country.

According to an report from the fast food fact finders at Technomic (not to be confused with Technotronic) say that Wendy's had sales of $8.5 billion last year, just a french fry better than the $8.4 billion earned by Burger King.

Both are still lagging behind Subway, which managed to rake in $11.4 billion last year, presumably by having a Subway on every street in every city in the entire country.

Regardless, none of these pretenders to the throne even comes close to taking down the clown in the number one spot. The $34.2 billion earned by McDonald's last year is larger than Wendy's, BK and Subway combined.

Technomic had predicted the King's dethroning back in December, based on forecasts showing that Wendy's same-store sales had increased while BK's had slipped.

Wendy's has attempted a massive company facelift in recent years, revising many of its menu items to feature less-processed foods, like its "natural-cut" fries and the Dave's Hot 'N' Juicy line of burgers.

Wendy's, not Burger King is No. 2 in sales [USA Today]

Despite the many conflicting reports about Jason Russell's naked breakdown in the middle of a busy San Diego intersection, the "Kony 2012" director was not arrested last Thursday. Instead, he was placed on a 5150 psychiatric hold. Invisible Children CEO Ben Keesey recorded a video message in response to Russell's breakdown, saying that the 33-year-old director felt intense pressure.

Russell supposedly suffered a mental breakdown, blamed on exhaustion, dehydration and malnutrition. "The callers reported the underwear-clad male was in the street, interfering with traffic, screaming, yelling incoherently and pounding his fists on the sidewalk," according to a statement released by police spokeswoman Lt. Andra Brown. "He continued to act in a bizarre and irrational manner."

"Due to the nature of the detention, he was not arrested," Lt. Andra Brown told media outlets. "During the evaluation we learned we probably needed to take him to a medical facility because of statements he was saying."

On Monday evening, Reuters reported that Jason Russell was being held on a 5150 psychiatric hold, via an Us Weekly report. The "fifty-one fifty" hold, referring to Section 5150 of California's Welfare and Institutions Code, is an involuntary psychiatric hold. This allows law enforcement to take an individual into custody if his mental condition makes him a danger.

The 5150 psychiatric hold can keep a person under evaluation in a medical facility for up to 72 hours. In Russell's case it is unclear whether that 72 hours has expired yet, as the 72-hour period depends on a particular facility's schedule and may or may not include Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.

A police officer or clinician can move to extend that 72-hour stay, according to Reuters, if deemed necessary. This falls into the "5250" hold category under California law. However, a court hearing is required to obtain this extension.

Invisible Children CEO Ben Keesey sat down for a video response to Jason Russell's breakdown. At this point, over 83 million people have viewed the "Kony 2012" video directed by the 33-year-old and countless others have viewed Russell's bizarre naked fiasco as well.

"These last two weeks have been tough, really tough," he began. Initially, Invisible Children's goal was for the "Kony 2012" video to hit just 500,000. The skyrocketing success of the video was "incredible, but it also came with the attention and the pressure of the global media spotlight."

"And that was hard for all of us, but it was especially hard for Jason because the story was so personal for him and his family. And that pressure took a serious toll on him and unfortunately the whole world saw that," said Keesey.

Keesey said that Invisible Children has received an influx of encouraging messages from fans and advocates offering their support.

Ben Keesey initially released a statement to TMZ blaming Russell's breakdown on "exhaustion, dehydration and malnutrition."

His statement said, "He is now receiving medical care and is focused on getting better. The past two weeks have taken a severe emotional toll on all of us, Jason especially, and that toll manifested itself in an unfortunate incident yesterday. Jason's passion and his work have done so much to help so many, and we are devastated to see him dealing with this personal health issue. We will always love and support Jason, and we ask that you give his entire family privacy during this difficult time."

Jason Russell's wife, Danica, also released a statement on behalf of her family. 

"Because of how personal the film is, many of the attacks against it were also very personal and Jason took them very hard," the statement said. "Jason has dedicated his adult life to this cause, leading to [the] KONY 2012 [video]. We thought a few thousand people would see the film, but in less than a week, millions of people around the world saw it."

The statement concluded with: "On our end, the focus remains only on his health, and protecting our family. We'll take care of Jason, you take care of the work. The message of the film remains the same: Stop at nothing."

Jason Russell's very public and very bizarre breakdown has attracted the attention of many; yet this attention might not bode well for the Invisible Children's "Kony 2012" campaign, which has already faced extreme criticism running the gamut from misuse of funds to exaggerated claims.

"He got a lot of criticism for this, and he may not be as internally resilient as someone needs to be to weather a storm of criticism like that," Alan Hilfer, chief psychologist at Maimonides Medical Center in New York City, told ABC News. "It might have been such a tremendous injury to his ego that he just sort of fell apart."

Although Hilfer has not treated Russell nor does he know about Russell's medical history, he said that worry and self-doubt can lead to sleep problems and insufficient self-care. Both of these can spark irrational behavior.

"Sometimes we see this in response to people not taking good care of themselves when they're under great deal of stress and pressure," Hilfer told ABC News. "They become overwhelmed and anxious and it interferes with their ability to sleep. Without treatment, it can cause disorientation and mental confusion."

Hilfer did attest to the dehydration claim, saying that lack of proper fluids can "absolutely cause all the signs of mental confusion he seemed to be experiencing." However, he added that severe dehydration is typically brought on by illness.

In order to recover on a personal level, Jason Russell needs support now more than ever. "All of these things can help somebody put it back together again," said Hilfer. "Being able to step away from limelight and recognize priorities and what options and alternatives there are is also important."

Whether or not his professional career can be salvaged is an entirely separate matter.

I can't decide whether this is really sad or really hilarious. Aside from the actual situation, I love the phrase "speedo-like underwear."

Southern Miss pep band members yelled the chant at Angel Rodriguez, right, during a game in Pittsburgh on Thursday.

(CNN) -- Five members of the University of Southern Mississippi pep band have had their scholarships revoked and have been removed from the band after they yelled a derogatory chant at a Puerto Rican player during an NCAA basketball tournament game last week.

The school announced the disciplinary action in a statement Tuesday, saying the five "have been forthcoming, cooperative, contrite and sincerely remorseful."

"They acted rashly and inappropriately, and now see the gravity of their words and actions," Vice President for Student Affairs Joe Paul said. "This is a teachable moment, not only for these students but for our entire student body and those who work with them."

The students will also be required to complete a two-hour training course on cultural sensitivity, the school said. The school has not identified the students.

TV cameras captured the incident during the University of Southern Mississippi-Kansas State University game at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh on Thursday.

As Kansas State point guard Angel Rodriguez shot free throws, several people could clearly be heard chanting, "where's your green card."

The university's president apologized to Rodriguez, saying the chant wasn't representative of the university.

Southern Miss apologizes for band's derogatory chant

Rodriguez said Friday, "I heard it. I don't pay attention to that nonsense, especially because Puerto Rico is a commonwealth, so we don't need no type of papers."

"Their athletic director and personnel from their school came to apologize, and I accepted it," he said.

Rodriguez said he realized that there are "ignorant people, and I know that is not how they want to represent their university."

NCAA spokeswoman Stacey Osburn said the University of Southern Mississippi "responded in a timely and appropriate fashion to address the matter."

"Any determination of championship misconduct is the purview of the men's basketball committee and will be addressed following the tournament," she said.

The eighth-seeded Kansas State Wildcats beat the ninth-seeded Southern Miss Golden Eagles 70-64, knocking them out of the tournament. Kansas State advanced to the next round, but lost to Syracuse.

Does that mean that all of those people who've requested me but who I've just left hanging out in my waiting friends list can see what I'm posting? I left them there because I didn't want to friend them, but I didn't want to decline because then they'll just request again. If this is how things are working now, I need to go empty that out like ASAP. 

"I don't care what the liberals say, I don't care what the naysayers say, this nation was founded as a Christian nation...There is only one God and his name is Jesus. I'm tired of people telling me that I can't say those words.. Listen to me, If you don't love America, If you don't like the way we do things I have one thing to say - GET OUT. We don't worship Buddha, we don't worship Mohammad, we don't worship Allah, we worship God, we worship God's son Jesus Christ."

In a revival type speech, Greenwell Springs Baptist Church pastor Rev. Dennis Terryintroduced Family Research Council president Tony Perkins and 2012 Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Christians, according to Rev. Terry, are the conscience of the state and even the key to turning the economy around. The pastor offered some pointed words about abortion, gay marriage, and prayer in schools, shouting about 'sexual perversion' and putting God back in Washington, D.C., as Senator Santorum was seen clapping, if not cheering, in the background.

?I know what?s in his heart. It?s the fact that he?s a Christian,? said Vickie Raabe, a 69-year-old Baptist who told the Washington Post she would be voting for Santorum in 2012. Evangelicals have become Sen. Rick Santorum's major source of support in the 2012 election as they turn out in record numbers for the Catholic candidate.

But as then Presidential hopefuls Senator Barack Obama, Gov. Sarah Palin, and Senator John McCain found out, endorsement from pastors can be a double edge sword.

At the end of the evening Rev. Terry prayed over the presidential hopeful asking for God's will to be done in the upcoming election intoning: "God, have favor on Rick Santorum."

The Myth of the Mama?s Boy

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inShare18

John Howard / Getty Images

Lombardi's book is The Mama's Boy Myth: Why Keeping Our Sons Close Makes Them Stronger.

For generations, mothers have gotten the same old message when it comes to raising sons: beware of keeping him ?too close.? A mom who nurtures a deep emotional bond will prevent him from growing up to be a strong, independent man. By refusing to cut those apron strings, she is on track to create the archetypal, effeminate, maladjusted ?mama?s boy.? There?s one problem with this theory: it?s just not true.

From the Oedipus myth (not to mention the complex Freud created around it) to the movie Psycho, our culture warns us about the dangers of mother-son closeness. No other parent-child combination is so stigmatized. We encourage mothers and daughters, as well as fathers and sons, to stay close throughout their adult lives. And a supportive father is considered essential to a daughter?s self-esteem. A dad can coach his daughter?s lacrosse team, wipe her tears and encourage her loftiest ambitions, all with smiling approval.

(MORE: The Myths of Bullying)

But a mother who is similarly involved in her son?s life is often accused of coddling, meddling, smothering or acting inappropriately. While we don?t worry about an involved father ?masculinizing? his daughter, there is clearly concern about the feminizing influence of Mom. As one woman said to me, ?It?s like if I spend too much time with my son, he?ll start running around, begging for directions.? Mothers of sons are supposed to push their boys away, physically and emotionally, in the name of their developing manhood.

This double standard is misguided and can be deeply damaging to boys. Certainly we know very young boys benefit from their mother?s love and comfort. A study published in Child Development involving almost 6,000 children found that baby boys who do not form strong attachments to their mothers grow up to be more aggressive and destructive children. And when young sons are encouraged to separate prematurely from their mothers, they become anxious little boys who carry a fear of intimacy and betrayal into their adult years, says Dr. Michael Kimmel, a sociologist who has written extensively about masculinity. After all, the first woman they have loved and depended on has pushed them away.

(MORE: ?Childist? Nation: Does America Hate Kids?)

As boys grow older, mothers who stay close to their sons can help combat the worst elements of a culture that cuts off boys? natural sensitivity and rich emotional life. For years, headlines have proclaimed that boys are in ?crisis.? They suffer from being forced to conform to standards of masculinity that still decree the only acceptable emotions are anger and aggression. Boys are also falling behind girls in school, getting lower grades, exhibiting more behavioral problems and receiving more diagnoses of learning disabilities.

These are not unrelated problems, and moms can be part of the solution. Nurturing mothers can help their sons develop emotional intelligence, encouraging them to talk about their feelings and recognize those of others. Certainly boys who are better able to articulate their thoughts and who have stronger self-control will perform better in the classroom than boys who retreat into silence or act out. One study of 400 middle-school boys in New York City public schools revealed that boys who were closer to their mothers were less likely to define masculinity as a matter of being tough, stoic and self-reliant. These boys not only had less anxiety and depression than their more stoic peers but also were getting better grades.

(MORE: How to Unlock Your Child?s Academic Potential)

And contrary to stereotype, boys who can express a broader range of emotions will not become wimps, forever clinging to their mommies, but instead independent guys who will make strong, empathetic spouses and partners, says Dr. William Pollack, a psychology professor at Harvard University. What?s more, these young men will be better equipped to navigate today?s economy, in which communication skills and teamwork are more important for success than brute physical strength or dominance.

Moms are tired of being told to back off from their sons for their own good. By keeping sons close, they aren?t creating mama?s boys. Moms are helping their sons reach their full human potential and setting up their boys for happier, more successful lives.

(MORE: Ten Ideas That Are Changing Your Life)

Lombardi is a journalist and author of The Mama?s Boy Myth: Why Keeping Our Sons Close Makes Them Stronger. The views expressed are solely her own.

Read more: http://ideas.time.com/2012/03/16/the-myth-of-the-mamas-boy/#ixzz1pcNCeXh1

_____________________________

I love my boy so much, but as the wife of a mama's boy, I feel that there is a big difference between teaching one's son to be emotionally communicative and coddling one's son to the point of adult uselessness. 

I thought this was a nice read given some of the current politics. I especially loved the answer to "Your daughter is so pretty." My mom loves to talk about how cute and pretty my daughter is and I'm trying to get her to use more empowering descriptions too.   

I swear my sides hurt thinking about it, it was epic. 

How are you feeling?! I'm so excited for you, and happy that the babe has been so cozy and snuggly inside for such a long time. What's the plan at this point?

U.S. Department of Justice, FBI and FDLE to probe Trayvon Martin killing.

Mounting pressure in Trayvon Martin case succeeds in getting a federal probe.

By Frances Robles

Cliffs Notes:  Hypnobabies doesn't work, she packed a lot, but will TOTALLY pack the EXACT SAME THINGS next time,  epidurals are heaven, nurses are nice, and recovery is a breeze if you use her magic lotion. 

Santorum steps in it on unemployment

The Romney campaign is howling with delight over a Rick Santorum gaffe in Illinois this afternoon, as the Pennsylvania senator ? already viewed as a candidate who may be more of a culture warrior than a job creator ? said the following, via Juana Summers:

We need a candidate who's going to be a fighter for freedom. Who's going to get up and make that the central theme in this race because it is the central theme in this race. I don't care what the unemployment rate's going to be. Doesn't matter to me. My campaign doesn't hinge on unemployment rates and growth rates. It's something more foundational that's going on. We have one nominee who says he wants to run the economy. What kind of conservative says that the president runs the economy? What conservative says I'm the guy, because of my economic experience, that can create jobs? I don't know. We conservatives generally think that government doesn't create jobs. That what government does is create an atmosphere for jobs to be created in the private sector.

Santorum tried to clean up the comment a bit on the rope line, saying this:

Of course I care about the unemployment rate, I want the unemployment rate to go down, but I'm saying my candidacy doesn't hinge on whether the unemployment rate goes up and down, our candidacy's about something that transcends that. It's about freedom. It's not about, you know, Gov. Romney's idea that he's going to fix the economy, which is something that of course we as Republicans don't believe that presidents fix the economy. We believe that we try to do things to create an atmosphere for the economy to fix itself.

The moment is similar to Romney's "I like being able to fire people" gaffe from January: What the candidate was trying to say was fairly benign but the literal words that came out of his mouth reinforce an unflattering perception that's already very much in circulation.

---------------------------------------

Dumbasss. Even if he didn't mean to say it this way, it's going to be a nice soundbite for his opponents for the near future... 

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/dolphins_in_depth/2012/03/david-garrard-joins-the-miami-dolphins.html

So they uploaded to Facebook posters featuring smiling photos of themselves?ordinary Israeli citizens with their children?pledging their love for the Iranian people and assuring everyone that Israel will not bomb Iran. "Iranians, we will never bomb your country, we [heart] you," the posters, featuring smiling families, say.

"I'm not an official representative of my country," Edri wrote in his Facebook post to the Iranian people, explaining that he's just a father and a teacher, Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported Monday. And continued: "We love you. We mean you no harm. On the contrary, we want to meet, have some coffee and talk about sports."

Most surprisingly, the "Israeli hearts Iran" peace offering has now been met by an "Iranians love Israel" return solidarity campaign on Facebook. "We love you, Israeli people! The Iranian people do not like war with any country," a poster uploaded to Facebook states.

Another Iranian poster: "We (heart) you Israeli people." (Facebook, via +972)

David Pocock is defying the world's most powerful sports manufacturers, religious lobbyists, and his parents.

By launching his own brand of football boots to protest against slave labour, and campaigning for same-sex marriage, Pocock has gone well beyond rival players and referees to take on the church and a multi-billion-dollar empire run by Nike, adidas and the rest.

It is an unparalleled stand by one of the world's best rugby players, but Pocock says: "Desmond Tutu, who was huge in South Africa in fighting apartheid, said that to be neutral in injustice is to merely support the status quo."

The Wallaby flanker's stance is sure to infuriate the influential sports manufacturing industry but Pocock welcomes the attention to his cause.

Being raised in a Christian home does not stop Pocock highlighting the hypocrisy of his own religion. And it won't compel him to legally marry partner Emma Palandri unless their gay friends have the same rights - even if the law is not changed by the time they have children. "Witnessing the injustice upon a minority group, and to have the opportunity in some small way to stand in solidarity with them, was really important for us," Pocock says.

Pocock is sitting at a cafe that serves only fair trade coffee, wearing a self-designed T-shirt featuring reggae musician Lucky Dube, and carrying a university handbook on the health benefits of indigenous food.

He runs his own charity, EightyTwenty Vision, which helps a remote community in Zimbabwe. He freely admits that sport is the one section of the newspaper he doesn't read. Not your average 23-year-old star athlete with global adulation.

In an era of tailor-made fluorescent boots, Pocock chooses to ignore six-figure sponsorship deals, instead painting over the logo of his boots.

His brand, Heroes Boots, will be releasing rugby balls in two months, with the ethically produced boots to follow later.

Pocock must be the only athlete who can be ranked among the top five players of a global sport not to have such an endorsement deal.

"What sort of living and working conditions do those who make the boots have?" wonders the Western Force captain, who faces the Waratahs tonight in Sydney.

"As consumers in a country like Australia, we often feel powerless to issues happening in other parts of the world. But we don't realise the powers we have being consumers. You can really vote with your dollar.

"If you buy things, companies will make them. But if you stop buying things - like chocolate that isn't fair trade - companies are going to move toward practices that help everyone benefits from the production, like the farmers and workers.

"I read that in West Africa 200,000 children are working in the worst forms of child labour conditions in cocoa fields. That is just ridiculous."During the interview he flits between quoting American intellectual Cornel West and feminist author bell hooks, to wondering why the 90 million people who have watched the Kony 2012 documentary are not dedicated to righting injustices every day.

Pocock's greatest pause comes when asked how his devout Christian parents feel about their son refusing to legally marry Emma, despite them having a ceremony to marry spiritually in late 2010.

"We have made that commitment to each other, and if we do decide to have children that won't change," Pocock says.

"It causes some debate with my parents. They may not support my view, but they are very supportive of me and know this is not an issue I've taken lightly and something I'm blase about. They know it is something very important to me.

"One of the things I really appreciate is that my parents always encouraged my brothers and I to think for ourselves.

"That takes a lot of courage because you want your kids to believe everything you believe. I don't hold all of the beliefs my parents do."

The church released a statement this week urging followers to oppose the idea of same-sex marriage, saying: "There would be no recognition of the complementarity of male and female or that marriage is intended for the procreation and education of children."

Pocock brushes off the suggestion that legalising same-sex marriage will lead to the destabilisation of family structure.

"I find it such an interesting argument because there are so many problems with the breakdown of family in society already. It seems like a poor argument," he says.

"To say people with different sexual orientation will be less capable of parenting seems crazy to me.

"The lobbyists who oppose it often try to sensationalise the issue, but we must realise that firstly, we are dealing with people.

"Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but for me looking as a Christian, I just don't see the Jesus that I follow collaborating with the persecution of an already oppressed minority group.

"The New Testament clearly supports the subjugating of women, slavery was common, divorce was clearly forbidden.

"It just seems hypocritical for the international church to have progressed with all those issues, then pick out marriage and make it an exclusive club.

"Friends of ours who weren't heterosexual didn't have the same opportunity. To see how loving they were towards each other, how much good came out of their relationships, it just made no sense to join this club that didn't accept other people."

Above all, Pocock wants debate and a conscience vote on the issue.

"We are all part of the human family. Everyone should have the opportunity to love one another with honour," Pocock says.

"The LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersexual) community are often not just after their fair share of the status quo and equal rights in marriage, the movement as a whole is doing some great things in trying to change conditions for so many oppressed minority groups and bringing attention to their struggles, which is often overlooked."

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