To find myself suddenly struggling to welcome gay marriage?

[grovel]

My initial reaction was "fine". As I think about it, I become rather sad that we are losing a distinctive quality in the meaning of marriage - namely that it celebrates how men and women complement each other (not only for purposes of procreation).

In every way I want equal recognition of partnerships be they straight or gay. Why then am I sad about changing the meaning of a word?

The only question i have about allowing 'gay' marriage is are they going to force churches and other religious places of worship into marrying couples? This i think would be wrong because religions have believes and as much as i dislike religions i dont think they should be forced into this.

There shouldnt be an arguement about whether people of the same sex should be allowed to get married. Yes of course they should be allowed.

I think this government's decision to push the issue of gay marriage is just posturing to distract us. I can't believe the Tories as a party really believe in this (maybe the LibDems), but it's got (some) people discussing something besides the state of the economy and cuts to welfare, cuts to working rights, etc.

No body is going to be forced to marry anyone-afaik there have been no cases of "forced marrying" in any of the other countries which allow equal marriage.

I know. I'm a stinker.

Some religions want to marry gay couples-liberal Jews, Unitarians, Quakers -that is also religious freedom.

Yabvu. Marriage is about two people who love each other and want to announce their love to the world. It doesn't matter what genitals they have.

Those pictures are beautiful. I am very weepy now.

I'd say this shows how well they complement each other

YANBU. You can think this through in your own way. Isn't it great that we have freedom of thought and speech?!

I think you've had an unfair pasting.

sniff Acid.

WildWorld - they are going to be very careful with the wording so that organisations which do not want to perform same-sex weddings do not have to. Which I think should be easy enough - the CofE already has an opt-out that says they don't have to marry anyone who is divorced (where their ex is still living) even though they can legally be married in England and would otherwise be entitled to be married in their parish church. And that has been working fine for many years, so I don't see any reason why same-sex marriages can't have the same opt-out, for religious organisations.

I'm sick of hearing about it.

Can I vote for number 18, with the closed eyes?

I think it only makes marriage better. Now I'm happy to say my friends can do it too.

Awwww that made me well up @ tees link

Tbh I simply can't understand why it has taken so long

Rosie Yes - the matching beards!

I've posted Tee's link on FB and am making others cry. Mwahaha.

Divorce statistics would suggest that men and women don't compliment each other all that well, actually.

YABVU.

Right I've had enough.

The word is complEment ok?

Whether or not they complIment each other is to be hoped for, but irrelevant.

huh

At least the OP spelt it properly.

The rest of her post was crap.

that's true

It's not irrelevant Hully. One of reasons DH and I are still together is that he compliments me. Especially my cooking.

Usually grovel you are a snesible poster, but this op was sadly ill-judged.

Thanks, Hully!