Equal Marriage #EqualMarriage

When I first heard about equal marriage I was against. Why should a religious group be forced to go against their faith and marry someone if they are simply flowing the doctrine of their faith.

I also though it was a big fuss about nothing. Flamboyant homosexuals making a stir so they can have a something they call a proper wedding. If the religions don't want them then why try to be a part of them. Make your own better religion. One that is tolerant and celebrates apologising to your fellow man when you have wronged them rather than a invisible force then carry on as before.

Then I had doubts. We can not allow discrimination in our society. Discrimination is very hard to resolve because the segregation is what causes the discrimination. To my shame there is no-one on my phone who is black and would expect me to make a courtesy call. There is also no-one on the list who is gay.

We do have segregation. Every wedge forms a level of discomfort and we take the easy option when choosing our relationships. We can never allow history and fear of change protect discrimination.

But then would we be discriminating against people with a faith. They were not actively committing an injustice?

Then I read the bill. And please someone correct me if I am wrong. No practitioner is required to carry out the marriage if they do not wish to.

The defences were gone.

Marriage is not longer a religious institution for most of the UK.

It has become a legal term and influences the laws surrounding assets and benefits.

It has a social value. It is still the go-to term for 'Off the market'. A symbol of the ultimate monogamy commitment.

It also has the benefit for carrying a gender reference for each party. As I found out recently and a young man told me about his partner. I asked where she was from, he said "Him" I said "Ohh sorry" he said "It's ok".

It was not really ok. We then proceeded to talk too much to compensate for the awkwardness that would have never happened had he just said husband. A potentially genuine dialogue destroyed because I was worried that he though that . . you get the idea?

Will I ever be attracted to a man? No way. The sway and curve of a woman's hips hmm. Everyone who is straight or gay knows that you are just born that way and it makes no sense to me that we are not all bisexual? I guess we are animals after all.

Am I homophobic. Yes, a bit. I have not knowingly conversed with any regularly since my college days but I remember it was nothing then, the idea that they might fancy me is odd. I guess it is the feeling women have around proactive men, but without the justification.

I'm more OverExcitableTeenageAphobic and MPSpeculatorAphobic.

But regarding homosexuals at least and feeling initially different and more calculating when relating to them. I know that it is both morally wrong and literally unfounded.

I do not wrong others so that I can gain or simply feel more comfortable.

It is wrong.

I will not deny them any rights that I might have. And that includes the institution of marriage.