Come together
There are days when everyone this side of the Cleavers wishes they were not married, but the pleasures of a shared life far outweigh the small qualms that strike us. Knowing someone as well as is possible, relying on them and having them rely on you – these things enrich and nourish us. This is true whether the marriage is legally recognised or a de facto partnership – marriage is written in the heart, not in the register. What counts is that you share with the world that you share a commitment, pride even, I don’t know what you call it, but it is in any case public. Some feel the need for the public to recognise it in return (some, but only few I would have thought, would wish it recognised for the small benefits it can bring – much bigger where there are kids and issues of guardianship, or an estate that might be disputed, but at least here in Australia or in the UK not much); some just like to formalise the partnership, to realise it.
But what I feel the right forgets is that these things are formalities – the marriage is made long before anyone gets to church. That doesn’t change no matter what laws you can get passed, even if the homophobes manage to constitute their states, or even their nation, on the grounds of their intolerance. You just can’t legislate love out of existence. And I believe that you should celebrate it where you find it, and doubly celebrate it when it is strong and alive. So a tip of the hat to the good people of Massachusetts and my wishes to them that their marriages give them all they hope for, that the good days far outnumber the bad, and that they enjoy to the full the blessings of union, regardless of the sex of their partner.
posted by Dr Zen @ 10:40 am
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