Same-Sex Marriage

The BBC is carrying an interesting story about a lesbian couple who were married in Canada whilst living there are now asking the High Court to recognise the legality of their marriage as they are now living and working in the UK.

Overseas marriages can be validated in the UK if they are recognised in the country in which it was performed and it can be shown that nothing in the country's law restricted the participants' freedom to marry.

They are saying that by recognising heterosexual canadian marriages but not homosexual ones, the UK is breaching their human right to privacy and family life and their right to marry.

As of Decemeber, homosexual couples are being offered Civil Partnerships which do confer (I believe) most if not all of the rights and priviledges that a marriage affords but is still not classed as a marriage.

This is a great step forward but I am confused as to the different title for what is fundamentally a marriage. I think it's a fence sitting exercise - by not calling it 'marriage', the government probably hoped to avoid too much of an outcry.

What I find very strange is unmarried heterosexual couples, who have chosen for whatever reason not to marry, saying that "unmarried" gay couples are being given the same rights as married heterosexual couples and that discriminates against them. (Um, gay couples can't marry?!) Homosexual couples are simple asking for the same legally protected rights and priviledges available to heterosexual couples. I understand that not everyone wants the big fuss, the outfits, the flowers, the party, the expense ... but a heterosexual couple wanting the legal rights and priviledges of marriage can pay a very modest sum for a quiet ceremony in front of two witnesses and a registrar - oh, that sounds very similar to the Civil Partnership procedure! :o)

If you choose not to marry, that's up to you. Don't complain when others want to.

Anyway, I think I'll be watching this with interest.

Happy Journeys