Openly gay Liberal Senator Dean Smith spoke against  the bill (same-sex marriage motion in Australian Parliament which was defeated), saying opinion in  the gay community was divided on the issue.

“By not agreeing to same sex  marriage, I’m not choosing to endorse  discrimination against my fellow gay and  lesbian Australians, or to be  disrespectful to their domestic relationships…  instead for me, it’s an  honest acknowledgement of the special and unique  characteristics of the  union described as marriage,”

Also, Gay advocate says don’t call it marriage:

Don’t call it marriage – interesting comment from Northern Territory gay community,

Darwin restaurateur John Spellman is one of the pioneers of the gay movement in the NT. During the 80s he made a name by running the popular gay nightspots known as Fannies and Dicks.

Mr Spellman is an advocate of equality for the Territory’s gay community.

However, he thinks a decision by the Northern Territory branch of the Labor Party to push the Federal Parliament to legalise gay marriage is wrong.

“I believe that the federal party’s attitude is better. The word marriage shouldn’t be used in any form of, how do we put it, cohabitation ceremony. If you want a commitment ceremony why not?” he said.

“But marriage is not the right word. It’s religious. It’s for a man and a woman to produce children. And I think you’d offend a lot of people by using the word marriage.

“Civil union, call it gay commitment ceremony, call it what you like. It’s a commitment between two couples. It’s a legal thing. If they want a legal thing – legislation – some other word but not marriage.”