I’ve been happily ensconced in a Civil Partnership for nearly three years now. You know, Civil Partnership, that thing that you describe, in all your infinite wisdom, as ‘harmful to the physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing of those involved’. And now you’re running scared because the gays want marriage. Well, here’s a thought: us gays have many, varied thoughts about Civil Partnership versus Marriage and I imagine that not everyone in a Civil Partnership would want to be married. But let’s just simplify this- you seem like a man who will benefit from simple arguments and short words. Let’s say that yes, there is a general feeling that it’s just plain silly that we have an institution which has all the same rights and responsibilities as marriage but is actually not marriage. So we think, well gosh, why don’t we just all have the same thing? That seems fair.
You say that ‘the repercussions of enacting same-sex marriage into law will be immense’. Really? Will they really? I’m left wondering if you’re just terribly confused by the whole issue and think making same-sex marriage legal, means that you have to marry a man. I can assure you that this isn’t the case. You also seem dreadfully worried about what teachers will possibly tell children (The Children, the Children! Will somebody please, think of the Children!) I actually laughed out loud when you asked ‘Will both teachers and pupils simply become the next victims of the tyranny of tolerance’. Yes, that bastard Tolerance, always causing trouble. God, I hate it when people are tolerant. And if I remember correctly, Jesus was proper anti-tolerance. Oh, no, wait…
You surpass yourself with stupidity when you suggest the proposal to legalise same-sex marriage ‘represents a grotesque subversion of a universally accepted human right.’ I think we might need to talk about the term ‘universal’. Actually, look it up, I can’t be bothered to explain. You also seem caught up on the idea of polygamy: ‘If marriage is simply about adults who love each other, on what basis can three adults who love each other be prevented from marrying.’ Steady on there, Keith. Drag your mind out of the gutter. Most of us gays are actually (secretly) deeply boring and traditional types who just want the right to get married to the person we love and cherish.
I wonder, if gay marriage gets the go-ahead, whether me and my Civil Partner (I still can’t call her my wife, it makes me giggle too much) will go out and sign the relevant documents. I suspect we will. It won’t change anything really. Marriage/Civil Partnership- it’s all semantics, isn’t it? Yes and no. There’s a lot of significance in terminology. Separate is never equal. So yes, we probably will sign up and bask in all the equality and then get on with our (deeply dull) lives. Our lives full of worrying about bills, stressing about work, spending time with friends and family, making each other happy, trying our best to be good people and do the right thing.
I finished reading your hateful piece with a sense of deep concern. I’m worried for you. You’re making a massive mistake. You’re picking the wrong fight. I think the world is finally waking up to the fact that the gay-marriage question isn’t actually a question at all. It’s going to happen. Of course it is. Because why in the world would any decent society deny two adults, who love each other and want to build a life together, the right to get married? Open your eyes. There is so much wrong with the world which deserves your attention. One in three children in the UK live in poverty. One in four women experience domestic violence in their lifetime. Youth unemployment and disillusionment are soaring. Civilians are being massacred in Homs. There’s plenty there to keep you busy.
You finish your article warning that if the government pushes forward with legalising gay-marriage, ‘…their intolerance will shame the United Kingdom in the eyes of the world.’ I’m finishing my letter with a similar warning. Wake up and engage your time and efforts in something real or history will not look kindly on you.
Yours sincerely
Wonderland
