In debates about equality in marriage, we often hear people say, "think about the children." For that reason, we intend to leave the question to the children to see what enlightening answers they will give.
Corin Nichols Tomlins and his two sisters, Scout and Cully, have a fairly firm view of this: first, having two moms is "normal, great"; and second, a referendum can do a lot of harm.
As Corin said at the Matrimonial Equality rally in Melbourne last Saturday: "it's like giving someone money and letting them humiliate us."
"I really don't think a referendum is a good idea because it gives people an excuse to slander my family," said the 13-year-old history enthusiast.
"I want people to really listen to what children think, not just to use us as an excuse."
Corin and his sisters have expressed similar views in the past-the last time they spoke to federal lawmakers last month when Rainbow families went to Canberra to promote.
However, with the Labour Shadow Cabinet formally confirming its position on the issue on Monday, decisions on whether to vote or not will gradually emerge.
Opposition leader Bill Shorton is widely expected to confirm that Labour does not support a public vote.
And it is not clear which compromise will eventually be reached.
Over the weekend, prominent law firms, including Baker & McKenzie, Marque Lawyers, Maurice Blackburn and Squire Patton Boggs, publicly called on the Turnbull government to abandon a referendum aimed at amending the marriage law.
Some mental health services have also warned that the broader debate has begun to lead to a surge in the number of same-sex people seeking help because of psychological problems.
At a rally on Saturday, Drummond Street Services's chief executive, Karen Field, said the agency's mental health services unit, Queerspace, had doubled the number of requests it received from the LGBTI community.
"Queerspace helped 428 gay people last year, but this year it has more than 700 people."
"should we spend our money on more mental health support for this community, rather than creating a platform of divisive hatred," Ms. Field said.
What about the kids? They tend to think that the federal government should be on a step-by-step basis. After all, what's the big deal?
Cully, 9, told the crowd: "No one of my friends cares if I have two moms. Sometimes they even think it's cool to have two moms. "
People just say, 'think of the children, they need a father and a mother', but they don't really care about us. This is unfair. We are no different from other families. But people ignore that. "
Scout, 11, said: "I saw a picture on Instagram saying God doesn't discriminate. Then why does anyone believe that God discriminates against my family? "
Sometimes you have to admit that youth is invincible.
