Straight ‘Partnership’

On the night of the victory of Barrack Obama, California passed Proposition 8, a piece of legislation detail that ‘marriage’ could only be defined as between male and female individuals.

Here’s the big question – why? What is so scary about the gay couple next door being married? What huge Bogey-man does that rattle in some far repressed closet that makes people become violent, opinionated and vicious when it comes to the idea of two men, or two women, getting married?

Now I know the usual reasons: My God (insert whatever particular deity you like here) says it’s wrong, it’s not normal, it will devalue marriage, it will confuse children, they’re not like us. So, I’d just like to take a trip down a theoretical road, and see what ideas we can take from there.

Religious reasons: Well, I can’t really say anything here, because far be it from me to comment on any other person’s religion. We each find our faith and path in some way or another, and anyone who does have true faith, I congratulate you. However, I do hope everyone who falls back on this idea also sticks by every single rule that is written in their various texts. So, no shrimp cocktails, women can’t possibly wear trousers, and remember not to go near those hot dogs on a Sunday! Oh, and the whole slavery, exploitation of family and killing for the family honour as well, cause that’s written too. Now I may seem like I’m being facetious, but I assure you this is not the case. If you hold the belief so strongly that because it was written or told within your religion that such things are wrong, and that is the reason you support marriage being solely between men and women, abide by all those old laws and rituals and out of date rules. Lets see the collection of stones at the edge of every town.

It’s not ‘normal’. OK, I can see why a few people might go for this one. I mean, nature has shown that many animals with higher brain functions, such as dolphins, monkeys and even penguins have homosexual relationships, but hey, those are the exceptions, right? And as long as we’re talking about normality, the number of BDSM, fetish and sexual violence cases present all over the world are perfectly natural, of course! I mean, who doesn’t find all sorts of animals gagging each other and walking around in high heeled boots? Normality is an easy label to use to make something seem bad or different, but is very hard to find in real life. The ‘average Joe’ is generally not all that average, and relying on this idea to condemn others is a cheap shot at the best of times.